Chandigarh/ New Delhi (May 04, 2014): In yet another twist in the wrongful confinement and abduction case against Punjab DGP Sumedh Singh Saini, the CBI has alleged apparent tampering of “certified copies” of documents put to the prime witness in the case on behalf of the accused.
Sumedh Saini – DGP Punjab
The allegation came during the cross-examination of businessman-cum-prime witness in the case Ashish Kumar. As the matter came up for resumed hearing before Delhi Special Judge AK Mendiratta, an application was filed on behalf of the prosecution by CBI’s special public prosecutor YK Saxena.
Taking up the application, Judge Mendiratta observed: “It is submitted that the certified copies of documents put to the witness during cross-examination on behalf of the accused appear to be tampered and necessary steps be taken as deemed fit and proper in the interest of justice”.
Judge Mendiratta added: “Though certified copies of the public record are admissible under Section 74 of the Evidence Act and since serious allegations of tampering/forgery of documents already produced during cross examination have been made by special public prosecutor for CBI, it shall be appropriate in case copy of the application is supplied to the accused to file response.”
About the case:
* DGP Sumedh Saini is accused of abducting and killing three persons in 1994
* The CBI allegation came during the cross-examination of a businessman-cum- prime witness in the case, Ashish Kumar
* Ashish Kumar has all along been alleging that his brother Vinod Kumar, brother-in-law Ashok Kumar and their driver Mukhtiar Singh were kidnapped and later eliminated
The Judge also fixed May 15 as the next date of hearing “for reply and arguments on the application” after defence counsel submitted that the accused were outstation and involved in election duties. He added “some reasonable time” was required to obtain instructions and file reply to the application as “further cross-examination was also to continue in respect of aforesaid documents filed on record.” The court, on the previous date of hearing, had made it clear that the examination of Ashish Kumar was to be “carried on successive dates till conclusion”.
Saini is accused of being involved in abduction and physical liquidation of three persons in 1994. Ashish Kumar has all along been saying his brother Vinod Kumar, brother-in-law Ashok Kumar and their driver Mukhtiar Singh were kidnapped and later eliminated; and the CBI found Saini and three other police officials directly responsible for their disappearance. After detailed investigation, the CBI filed a charge-sheet in the matter. The charges have already been framed; and Saini is out on bail. Ashish had earlier created a flutter in the Punjab and Haryana High Court by claiming Punjab’s then vigilance chief Sumedh Singh Saini was out to eliminate him. Already, Justice Daya Chaudhary has quashed the warrants issued by a Ludhiana court against him and his mother Amar Kaur.
Ashish’s family was chief financier to Saini motors, run by the divorced husband of Sumedh Singh Saini’s sister; and the Ludhiana case was an offshoot of their struggle for justice, Ashish Kumar has been asserting. Amar Kaur is virtually the complainant in the disappearance case against Saini.
Note: Above write-up was originally published by The Tribune (dt: May 04, 2014), under title: “Papers in abduction case against DGP tampered with: CBI” by Saurabh Malik at Source url: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140504/punjab.htm#2