Guwahati: Four attorneys have been appointed as special public prosecutors in order to represent the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and its specific cases related to the outlawed Popular Front of India (PFI) and Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi before the NIA Special Courts and High Courts in Guwahati, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Chennai.
The four advocates appointed by the Centre are Makhan Phukan, Ajith Kumar S, Sneh Deep Khyaliya and N Baaskaran. They will handle these cases in the four states of Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam, said a notice issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
These advocates have been appointed for a period of “three years with effect from the date of publication of the notification or until further orders, whichever is earlier”.
Makhan will represent the NIA in cases before the High Court of Guwahati while Ajith and Sneh would represent the NIA in cases before the NIA Special courts and the High Courts of Kerala and Rajasthan. N Baaskaran will represent the NIA in proceedings before the High Court of Madras and the NIA Special Court in Chennai.
The Centre acted in accordance with the authority granted by Section 24’s Subsection 8 and Section 15’s Subsection 1 of the National Investigation Agency Act of 2008 (34 of 2008), both of which were invoked by the Centre.