India, June 9 -- An accused in the Baba Siddique murder case has approached a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court seeking permission to be represented during the trial by Vijay Palande, a convict in the Arun Tikku murder case, who is also facing trial in other murder cases that surfaced during the Mumbai Crime Branch's investigation.

The request is unusual because Palande is not an advocate. Under criminal procedure, however, an accused person may seek permission from a court to be represented by a person other than a lawyer in certain circumstances, although such representation is subject to judicial approval. Sujit Sushil Singh alias Babbu Singh, currently lodged in Thane Central Prison, has specifically so...