13-Feb-2013
PUNE: Rogue bus driver Santosh Mane was suffering from mental illness called mania when he was examined in 2010-11, Solapur-based psychiatrist Vilas Burte told the district and sessions court here on Tuesday.
On January 25, 2012, Mane had hijacked a state transport bus from the Swargate stand and had driven it around the city on a manic spree, leaving nine people dead and 31 injured.
Burte, defence witness number one, was deposing before the additional sessions judge V K Shewale. Burte holds a diploma and a master’s degree in psychological medicine. He has been practising as a psychiatrist since 1977.
When examined by senior lawyer Dhananjay Mane, Burte deposed that he had met driver Mane and his brother for the first time at his clinic in Solapur on February 19, 2010.
According to Burte, Mane’s brother had told him that he was suffering from disturbed sleep, palpitation, etc. He was not having proper meals, suicidal ideas were coming to his mind and he was looking sad. He was also suffering from ringing in the ears.
Burte said that Mane’s brother had informed him that his family did not have any history of psychiatric illness. Mane had a history of tobacco chewing and occasional consumption of alcohol.
Mane’s psychological examination revealed that he was non-cooperative, restless, irritable, elated and talkative, Burte said. He, however, added that no hallucination or delusions of persecution were present. According to the psychiatrist, Mane’s orientation of memory and intelligence was not impaired. His insight was poor. Mane was diagnosed with mania (mental illness) and he was given prescription for medicines.
Burte also gave details of providing electro convulsive therapy (ECT) to Mane. He was under psychiatric treatment during February 19, 2010 to November 3, 2011. He produced copies of his medical history and register before the court.
The witness said that the Pune police had recorded his statement, but he could not recollect the date. He added that the police had collected documents of Mane’s medical history on January 25, 2012 night.
The defence counsel, assisted by Pune-based lawyer Hrishikesh Ganu, examined Shivanand Shete, medical shop owner in Solapur, as defence witness number two. Shete gave details of the medicines purchased by Mane in 2010-11.
Public prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar sought time for cross-examining the witnesses on March 1.
Prosecution challenges genuineness of documents
Public prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar on Tuesday challenged the genuineness of medical documents of driver Santosh Mane, when the court was recording the evidence of psychiatrist Vilas Burte. Pawar told the court that she was challenging the documents as it is not part of the evidence in the case. Additional sessions judge V K Shewale told her that she cannot challenge the documents when it has not been produced before him, but he kept her objections open while recording the evidence. The judge later exhibited the documents filed by the defence.
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THE DISPATCH...On Mental Health 