Special Branch Head Senior Superintendent Prem Narine denied under cross-examination that President Irfaan Ali instructed him to place Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, his family and associates under surveillance.

Narine was testifying during extradition proceedings involving Mohamed and his father, businessman Nazar Mohamed, before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Defence attorney Siand Dhurjon asked Narine whether the surveillance instructions came from Ali. Narine rejected the suggestion, saying no one instructed him to place Mohamed under surveillance.

Asked whether he did so simply because he wanted to, Narine said: "No, I had a reason to do it." He said he did not send monitoring reports or his findings to anyone.
Dhurjon also suggested the alleged instruction from Ali began in 2024, which Narine denied.

However, Narine confirmed that Mohamed and his father were under Special Branch surveillance on October 31, 2025, the day they were arrested.

Questioned on the circumstances of the arrests, Narine said he made checks at several locations beforehand. Asked whether those checks were physical, he said he made the inquiries by phone.

The proceedings are continuing.