NEW DELHI: Special judge Shiv Narain Dhingra has issued arrest warrants against two main prosecution witnesses in the 1984 anti-Sikhs riots case involving former Union Minister H.K.L. Bhagat for not responding to court summons. On Wednesday, Dhingra issued warrants against the chief deponent Satnami Bai, and on Friday the judge also issued orders for the arrest of another prosecution witness Besshan Kaur when they failed ‘7h up in court for the recording of their statement. The warrants were issued on the request of prosecution’s counsel A.B. Tandon. Through Ms. Kaur had sent her father’s medical certificate by hand with one of her relative’s children to substantiate her absence (as she was taking his care at the hospital), Mr. Tandon did not find this to be a reason sufficient for her absence from a ‘very important’ court proceeding. ‘The judge, in his Rs 5,000 bailable warrant order, directed Ms. Kaur to appear in court on November 15 for recording of her statement, which would form part of the prosecution’s evidence against Mr. Bhagal. MS. Kaur, in her affidavit had accused Mr. Bhagat of instigating a mob for rioting during the anti-Sikh riots in November 1984 in which her husband had been killed, Earlier on Wednesday, the court had also issued bailable warrants against Ms. Satnami Bai, the main complainant against Mr, Bhagat on similar grounds. The judge had, consequently, directed Ms. Bai to appear in the court on November 13. She had also failed earlier to appear in the court on summons for recording her evidence. On that occasion, Mr. Bhagat had come to the court in person along with his counsel and waited for MS Bai’s arrival till lunchtime. As soon as he left, however, ’MS Bai turned up saying that she had been unwell. This, however, did not agree well with the judges and the arrest warrants were not recalled.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 30, 1996
