Counsel absent, Bunny to pay Rs 4K

Chandigarh, October 16

Jasjit Singh Bunny, an accused in a molestation case, has to shell out Rs 4,000 after statements of the complainant and a witness could not be recorded in the court.

During a resumed hearing in the case today, the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Abhishek Phutela directed Bunny, son of a former Punjab Minister, to pay Rs 2,000 each to the complainant and another witness in the case who reached the court to record their statements.

During the previous hearing on September 20, the victim’s statement was partly recorded and the suspect had taken exemption from appearance.

The complainant and the witness were asked to record their statements today. The proceedings could not take place further as Bunny was present, but his counsel was found absent. The court told Bunny to pay Rs 4,000 to the witness and the complainant.

In her statement, the victim submitted that on November 23, 2018, Bunny came to the salon in an inebriated state and touched her inappropriately while she was giving him a head massage. When Bunny was asked to leave, he allegedly started abusing her, who then called the owner of the salon. Bunny also verbally abused the female owner of the salon and threatened to slap her. After this, the owner informed the police about the incident. — TNS