Deputy Speaker at the Drugs Commission of Inquiry 

Lawyer and Deputy Speaker Sanjeev Teeluckdharry did not wish to appear before the Commission of Inquiry on Drugs on 6 July unless the latter communicates to him in advance the incriminating elements against him. But his request was not accepted.

The convocation of Sanjeev Teeluckdharry was made after his telephone calls with prisoners and exchanges of SMS. According to information available to the Commission of Inquiry, the phone number of Sanjeev Teeluckdharry was traced on a cell phone seized on Jean Jacques Rudolph, known as Gro Derek. He has been subjected to unsolicited visits at the prisons. 

The Chairman of the Drug Inquiry Paul Lam Shang Leen revealed that from 2014 to 2016, Sanjeev Teeluckdharry was in contact with Derek Jean Jacques, known as Gros Derek, on the phone eight times and they also exchanged SMS. Sanjeev Teeluckdhary initially stated that he did not know Gro Derek before withdrawing his statements. He confirmed that he was in contact with Gro Derek on 11 August 2015 and on 18 June 2016. The Deputy Speaker visited several detainees including Veeren Peroomal, Siddick Islam, Winsley Vigoureux, Christopher Kabinda and David Hart. The Commission granted Sanjeev Teeluckdharry a period of one month to explain this with supporting evidence. It is to be recalled that the name of Sanjeev Teeluckdharry has been mentioned after his Junior Erickson Monneapillay was questioned by the Commission in June in the case of Peroomal Veeren. 

“I do my work with professionalism” 

In a press statement after his appearance at the Commission, Sanjeev Teeluckdharry states that the job of a lawyer is a noble one. “Since 2001, I have been defending prisoners. It is difficult to know from where some calls that I received emanate, whether from prison or not. Since 2001, I have been using one number for all calls. I am relieved that the President said there is no charge. There are many prisoners who want to make an appeal against their sentences or look for mercy. If I am busy, I sent my juniors to them. I do my work with professionalism and integrity. I am proud to a lawyer. I advise the young lawyers to continue doing their work without any fear,” he said. The lawyer of Sanjeev Teeluckdharry, Rama Valayden said that he will gather more information from the prison. “We will ask the Supreme Court to give us the required information. Tomorrow we will reveal about the motion for Monday. We will prove our points.” 

Motion filed before Chief Judge 

Sanjeev Teeluckdharry has filed a motion before Chief Judge Kheshoe Parsad Matadeen on Wednesday. He is asking the Supreme Court to order the Commission of Inquiry to provide him with information beforehand that could be used against him during his hearing and to freeze his convocation until he obtains the information in question. The case will be heard on 10 July before Chief Justice Kheshoe Parsad Matadeen. Sanjeev Teeluckdharry, Deputy Speaker in the National Assembly, wants to prepare himself before being confronted with the questions of the Chairman of the Drugs Commission, former judge Paul Lam Shang Leen, and his two assessors, Sam Lauthan and Dr. Ravind Kumar Domun.