Bangalore, May 25: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the CID on a petition by former minister Hartalu Halappa challenging a lower court order permitting a DNA test on him.

The Shimoga judicial magistrate first class court on May 21 had permitted the CID to conduct DNA and voice tests on him but later suspended it till May 26 and also extended his judicial custody to June 7. Ravi B. Naik, senior counsel for Halappa, objected to the DNA test and collecting Halappa’s blood and other samples for the test stating that it could be misused. “The accused has gone through all other medical examinations and the CID is yet to examine the clothes seized from the complainant’s house.

In such circumstances permitting a DNA test and collection of samples could be misused,” Naik said. The court further sought to know from the CID why they sought permission to the tests only now and without explaining why they are required.