SC allows deposition of witness in Tank case

Our Correspondent

Abohar, January 19

The Supreme Court, while disposing of the special leave petition (SLP) filed by slain Dalit youth Bhim Tank’s mother Kaushalya Devi, has directed that the proposed witness Akash and any other witness may be examined within a period of one month from the next date before the trial court (District and Sessions Courts, Fazilka). The trial may be concluded and final order may be passed within six months from the next date before the trial court, the SC said.

Kaushalya Devi had in November last year challenged an order passed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in connection with the murder case.

The counsels for the affected family had requested the trial court in Fazilka to allow the evidence of Sant Nagar resident Akash. His statement was recorded at the initial stage by the police, but his name was not included in the list of witnesses attached to the challans. The accused challenged it in the High Court, which granted stay against such a move.

Bhim’s mother Kaushalya Devi approached the Supreme Court on seeking permission to file an SLP (Criminal). She pleaded that evidence of Akash was significant as he claimed to have met Bhim before his death.

The bench of Justice SA Bobde, Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Sanjiv Khanna passed the order on the SLP on Friday.