In her application, Selvi has challenged the High Court decision upholding the order of the trial court permitting the police to conduct the narco-analysis test on her.

The apex court has combined several similar petitions and hearing the same from a larger perspective.

Senior advocate Haris Salve submitted that the court should interpret the law and give a final ruling on the topic as it has been the bone of contention in several cases.

Interpretation

“Police books have many guidelines, but they are to be interpreted,” he said urging the court to decide the matter in the better interest of criminal justice system. Selvi, her husband T A Murugesan, and another person from Erode, Govindarajan, have filed the petition before the apex court.

They have been charged with the kidnap and murder of Sivakumar, son-in-law of the Murugesans, whose body was found in a field in the Attibele police station limits of Bangalore Rural district on April 18, 2004.

Background

Shivakumar had married the MLA's daughter, Kavita and the couple were living in Bangalore as the girl’s parents had disapproved of the marriage.

He was later kidnapped from the Koramangala police station limits on April 17, 2004.

Complaint lodged

Kavita lodged a complaint with the Koramangala police, accusing her parents of kidnapping her husband. The Koramangala police had arrested Selvi Murugesan and others on charges of murdering Shivakumar. The other accused in the case are Kumar, Dhadiya and Bengal.