The Crime Branch, which is probing the suicide of Dr Payal Tadvi, is all set to seek custody of the three accused doctors - Hema Ahuja, Ankita Khandelwal and Bhakti Mehare - from court. The Sessions court has sent the accused to judicial custody till June 10, resulting in the crime branch getting no time to interrogate them. The crime branch will plead before the court about the need to cross verify all the facts and claims made by eyewitnesses.

Dr Payal Tadvi, a second year student of gynaecology, in Nair Hospital committed suicide in her hostel room on the night of May 22. The Agripada cops had arrested three of Payal's seniors based on allegations made by Payal's family about caste-based harassment and ragging. On May 30, the probe was transferred from Agripada police station to the crime branch. Soon after the transfer, the Sessions court sent the accused to judicial custody, rejecting a request by the crime branch for police custody.