Light may soon be shed on notary Rajkumar Lallah?s death. At least, the real relations between the notary and the couple ? his daughter Anju and Antoine Chetty ? are now public knowledge. The notary swore an affidavit in Court a few years before he died to relate, among other things, his daughter?s violent behaviour towards him.

Former police commissioner Raj Dayal confirmed this version at his press conference (see inset) last Friday. He declared that he was ready to make a statement to the CCID because he thinks that it could have been a murder case. He related how late notary Lallah had come to him for police protection because Antoine Chetty had threatened him and he had said he did not feel safe.

Although the late notary never speaks of an open threat, he relates how his daughter yelled at him and even beat him when he expressed dissatisfaction with Antoine Chetty?s presence at his place. Rajkumar Lallah did not agree with the relationship between the latter and his daughter and thought that her ?conduct has become totally undignified and intolerable.? The notary also explained that, sometimes, she ?would show her affection for Antoine Chetty physically in my presence.?

After this ordeal, the notary became depressive as from 1997; he stopped working and left his home to go and live at his mother?s place. But the relationship had become so explosive that he decided to ask for a Court order to prevent the couple from using his house or his car. On account of Anju Lallah?s ?demeanour and attitude?, judge Saheeda Peeroo refused the couple access to the notary?s house.

This revelation has been confirmed by one of the late Rajkumar Lallah?s relatives. According to the latter, the former notary was ?grievously harmed by someone, who was a regular visitor to his house in Vacoas.?

This member of the family says he saw the notary?s body and noticed wounds all over it, which did not tally with the accidental death theory. Moreover, this person relates how the family was divided over this ?suspicious? death and finally decided to cremate the body without informing the police of their suspicions because ?some family members were particularly afraid of one person.?

In view of such disclosures on the catastrophic relations between the notary and the couple at the end of his life, questions are inevitably raised on the real cause of notary Lallah?s death. Antoine Chetty?s lawyer, Samad Golamaully, has simply asked that the former police commissioner reveals what he says he knows ?as a responsible citizen.?

The family was divided over this ?suspicious? death and finally decided to cremate the body without informing the police of their suspicions because ?some family members were particularly afraid of one person.?

Former police boss denies a lot but reveals little

Following his release on bail, former police commissioner Raj Dayal held a press conference with the promise of important revelations concerning the Deelchand affair. However, his disclosures have finally proved quite vague. Raj Dayal is provisionally charged with participation with notary Deelchand in October 1994 in an alleged plot to set up businessman Satish Nundlall because the latter had become ?a problem? for Deelchand and Veeren Mooraghen in their business deals.

The press conference at first seemed to be aimed at denying these allegations. Raj Dayal explained that the meeting had never taken place. He added that there should be documents to attest to such a meeting if it had been held at the SMF. He insisted that the police should not trust Antoine Chetty as he is a drug trafficker. ?He is taking the country hostage. He is destabilising its institutions and creating an insecure atmosphere in the country.?

He also hauled the police over the coals as he asserted that Chetty is ?taking it (the police) for a ride. He (Chetty) is taking them where he wants while the enquiry on drugs is not making any progress.? After shedding light upon what he calls ?false allegations?, the revelations expected proved quite disappointing. The former police commissioner refused to comment upon Ally Lazer?s list of drug traffickers. He contented himself with saying, ?If such a file exists, it should still be at Line Barracks.? He also refused to deny or confirm that he had met Ally Lazer.

Likewise, he declined to give any information on notary Deelchand; he refused to say if the notary was in any way under police surveillance at the time. Once more, he said that this could be checked from police records.