ROHTAK, Dec 18 — The Special Judge, Mr Shiva Sharma, today extended the judicial remand of former Revenue Minister, Mr Anand Singh Dangi, pending investigation and directed that he should be produced in the court on January 1.

The judge fixed December 20 for arguments on the bail application of Mr Dangi, who is facing charges under Sections 218, 406, 409, 418, 420, 467, 468, 471, and 120-B, IPC, and Section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The defence counsel had sought time for arguments on the bail application.

The public prosecutor moved an application, seeking permission to treat Mr Dangi as arrested by the police. The judge accepted the request and directed that the former Revenue Minister should be treated as arrested with effect from December 4, the day he surrendered in the court following directions of the Supreme Court.

The SP, State Vigilance Bureau, Mr Sadhu Singh, sought permission for interrogating Mr Dangi in other cases registered against him in Ambala as the investigation of the cases registered against him in Rohtak and Ambala have been entrusted to him.

Another application was moved for seeking transit remand of Mr Dangi for taking him to Ambala for interrogation in police custody.

Opposing the application, the defence counsel alleged that an application for the issuance of production warrants was made by the police before the Special Judge, Ambala and that the said application was rejected on December 13. He argued that Mr Dangi should not be handed over to the police for interrogation because in all probability Mr Dangi could be eliminated by his political adversaries.

Continuing his arguments, the defence counsel sought two weeks’ time, urging that Mr Dangi had already moved the Supreme Court voicing apprehensions about his elimination by the police and for the transfer of investigation of this case from the Haryana police to the CBI.

Mr Shiva Sharma, directing Mr Dangi to surrender before the court of sessions, said the Supreme Court had directed that adequate security should be provided to Mr Dangi. Inviolable right of the petitioner to life could not be allowed to be jeopardised, he said.

It would not be in the fitness of things to hand over Mr Dangi to the Haryana police before the disposal of his special leave petition pending before the Supreme Court, the judge said.