Sena leader among three acquitted in assault case

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 3

The court of District and Sessions Judge Balbir Singh today acquitted three persons, including Shiv Sena leader Nishant Sharma, from charges of obstructing police officials from discharging their duty and assaulting them in 2011.

In January, Nishant Sharma and Ramesh Kumar Dutt, both residents of Mohali, and Ashutosh Gautam, a resident of Patiala, had been sentenced to three-year imprisonment by the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMIC). The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 each. However, they were released on bail on the same day.

They were convicted under Sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) of the Indian Penal Code.

The accused then filed an appeal against the order in the court of District and Sessions Judge.

According to the prosecution, on November 11, 2011, a team of the Delhi Police had arrived to produce Jagtar Singh Hawara and Paramjit Singh Bheora, both accused of the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, in the court. When police officials reached the gate of the court complex, Nishant, Ashutosh and Ramesh suddenly broke the security cordon put up by police officials of the Operation Cell of the Chandigarh Police along with Delhi Police and ran towards Hawara and Bheora. Nishant tried to attack Hawara. The police then took them into their custody.

During trial, defence counsel NK Nanda argued that police officials had admitted that many mediapersons were present at the spot, but the prosecution had neither examined any independent witness nor the footage was obtained from the mediapersons. He argued that there were contradictions in the witnesses’ statements.

After hearing the arguments, the court set aside the order of the JMIC court and acquitted the three.

Broke security cordon in court

In November 2011, three persons broke the police security cordon and tried to attack Jagtar Singh Hawara and Paramjit Singh Bheora, both accused of the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, who were produced in a court.