2 Years Later: Lawyer Demands 500M for Police Mess

In a significant legal development, attorney Akil Bissessur and his partner, Doomila Devi Moheeputh, are seeking 500 million Mauritian Rupees in damages from the Mauritian state and several high-ranking law enforcement officials. The couple alleged that the Special Striking Team (SST) conducted an abusive raid on their residence in August 2022, claiming that the operation was politically motivated and intended to smear their reputations.

The complaint was filed in the Supreme Court on August 19, 2024, almost two years after the controversial raid.

The defendants named in the lawsuit include Police Commissioner Anil Kumar Dip, Superintendent of Police Ashik Jagai, former Assistant Commissioner of Police Heman Jangi, and Detective Inspector Ritesh Ramlagun.

The complaint was prepared by Senior Attorney Vijay Kumar Dwarka, who outlined the couple’s claims that they were victims of a politically motivated defamation campaign.

The troubling events began in August 2022 when Bissessur found himself on a social media blacklist, a consequence of his outspoken criticism of both the government and the police.

On the night of August 19, 2022, the SST, led by Superintendent Jagai, executed a search warrant at Moheeputh’s home in Palma, Quatre-Bornes.

Bissessur and Moheeputh asserted that this operation was conducted without a valid warrant and that the police exhibited severe misconduct during the raid.

Bissessur alleged that he was physically assaulted during the incident and that drugs were planted in their home with the intent to incriminate him.

The couple also emphasized that an edited video of the raid found its way to the media, resulting in public disapproval and further tarnishing their image.

Despite a lack of incriminating evidence and forensic tests that failed to link either Bissessur or Moheeputh to the seized substances, the provisional charges against Bissessur have severely impacted his professional and personal reputation.

The couple contended that the police’s actions have caused irreversible damage to their lives.

The case is set to be heard in the Supreme Court on September 19, 2024, marking a critical moment in their pursuit of justice and accountability for the alleged unlawful actions of the police.

Source: Defi Media