Court nod for drug peddler to consult private dentist

Additional Sessions Judge Bimba Thaly has granted permission for Israeli drug dealer, David Driham alias Dudu, provided he bears the expense of travelling, doctor’s fee and moreover, the police escort. Dudu's lawyer Raju Poulekar had moved an application seeking permission to consult a private dentist of his choice after his lawyer pointed out that it would take him at least four months to get the appointment in government-run Goa Dental Hospital.

"We made an application to get him treated by a private dentist of his choice because the Goa Dental College said it would take four months to give him an appointment,” he said. "It has been made clear by the investigating officer that it would take some time for the applicant to get dental treatment at Goa Dental College thus considering the dental problem suffered by the applicant and considering the time that would be consumed at GMC to treat the applicant he is allowed to take treatment from a private dentist," the judge ordered.

Poulekar said that his client is suffering from extreme tooth decay. The lawyer said that the GDC had earlier advised to extract the cavity-filled tooth. Dudu was arrested in February with a cocktail of drugs with street value of more than Rs three lakh in the coastal belt of North Goa.