NEW DELHI PN. Lekhialleged on June 24 that R.K. Dhawan the then Special Assistant to Indira Gandhi was involved in the assassination of the former Prime Minister.
Appearing for accused Atinderpal Singh General of the Khalistan Liberation Organization, Lekhi to1d the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, J.M Malik that the Thakkar Commission has cast its suspicion on Dhawan.
Lekhi alleged that “the assassination of Indira Gandhi was an internal conspiracy and Dhawan was the prime conspirator.”
Ata special sitting at high security Tihar Central Jail, Malik extended till July 7 the judicial remand of Simranjit Singh Mann, Unified Akali Dal President, Atinderpal Singh and two Bombay lecturers Prof Dalip Singh and Jagmohan Singh Toni charged with sedition and conspiracy to kill Indira Gandhi.
Lekhi said though the charge sheet was filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on April 7 last against the four accused the case diaries had not been placed on records, This might used to fabricate evidence against the accused.
Referring to the court order regarding withholding names of 11 witnesses. Lekhis said the court passed the order without hearing defense counsel which was against the principles of “natural justice” and “fair trial”.
Lekhi made serious charges against the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate S.L. Khanna who is conducting remand proceedings in the case and said, “there is a conspiracy between the court and the prosecution to delay the trial and to prosecute innocent people.”
On this Malik said all these things should be discussed before the regular court. “I am only a link Magistrate. Therefore, this court cannot take up all these issues.”
Article extracted from this publication >> June 30, 1989
