New Delhi, Feb 24 :  Five corporate executives, accused in petroleum ministry documents leak case, Tuesday told a court here that they were forced to sign on blank papers during their custodial interrogation.

RIL corporate affairs manager Shailesh Saxena, Jubilant Energy senior executive Subash Chandra, Reliance ADAG deputy general manager Rishi Anand, Essar DGM Vinay and Cairns India general manager K.K. Naik were presented in court before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sanjay Khanagwal, who remanded them in judicial custody till March 5.

During the hearing, the accused alleged that they were forced to sign on blank papers by police during their custodial interrogation.

Saxena also said that he has developed some illness because of the unhygienic atmosphere in custody and sought the court to issue necessary directions to the jail superintendent so that his health dose not suffer.

After hearing his plea, the court issued direction to the jail superintendent to submit Saxena's medical report within 48 hours.

Other accused also asked the court to direct the jail superintendent to provide them certain medicines and other facilities on grounds of their illness. The court directed the jail superintendent to provide medical records of all the accused on the next date of hearing.

Meanwhile, Virender Kumar, employed as a casual worker in defence ministry, who was arrested here Tuesday for his alleged involvement in the leak of documents from the petroleum and other ministries was sent to a day's police custody.

Police told the court that Kumar is required for custodial interrogation to unearth the details of fake identity card issued by him and use of the ministry's stamp on that card.

Lalta Prasad, 36, and Rakesh Kumar, 30 - both brothers and residents of Delhi -- along with Rajkumar Chaubey, 39, a resident of Ghaziabad, were arrested Feb 17 night, the day the documents leak from the petroleum ministry was unearthed.

All three with government employees Asharam, 58 and Ishwar Singh, 56, are in judicial custody.

Former journalist Santanu Saikia who runs a web portal and covered the crime beat for several years, was remanded to judicial custody till March along with Prayas Jain, a Melbourne-based energy consultant were remanded to judicial custody till March 6 by a court here Monday. 

Delhi Police have registered two FIRs in connection with the leak of classified documents related to different ministries, including coal, petroleum and natural gas, and power -- the first on Feb 17 and second Feb 20.