New Delhi:
A Delhi court has dismissed a plea of former BSP MP Dhananjay Singh's wife Jagriti Singh seeking adjournment by at least six months recording of prosecution evidence in a case of murder of their domestic help in which both are accused.
The court said it appeared that Ms Jagriti's plea was only "a ploy to linger" the matter indefinitely and to "harass" public witnesses and it was without any merits.
"The present application (of Jagriti) seeking adjournment of at least six months for further cross-examination (of witness), however, seems to be only a ploy to linger on the matter indefinitely and to harass the public witnesses, which may lead to failure of justice...," Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal said.
In her plea, Ms Jagriti, who is in judicial custody, said that recording of evidence should be adjourned for at least six months for further cross-examination of witnesses as there were two digital video recordings (DVRs) on record in the case which contained CCTV footage of approximately 2,000 hours.
Her counsel said that it would be proper to conduct cross examination of two prosecution witnesses only after watching the CCTV footage and it would take around six months to watch it properly.
Her plea was opposed by police which said every effort has been made to record the testimony of two prosecution witnesses expeditiously and it "does not lie in the mouth" of accused to seek adjournment for going through the CCTV footage.
The prosecutor said that contents of the DVRs were in knowledge of the accused as it was supplied to them earlier.
Ms Jagriti, who was a dental surgeon at a government hospital, and Mr Dhananjay were arrested on November 5, 2013 in connection with the death of their 35-year-old domestic help named Rakhi Bhadra, a resident of West Bengal. Dhananjay is currently out on bail.
The court is at present recording statements of prosecution witnesses in the case.
While Mr Dhananjay is facing trial for alleged offence of destruction of evidence, Ms Jagriti was put on trial for various alleged offences punishable under the IPC, including murder.
The court had framed charges against Ms Jagriti under various sections of the IPC, including 302 (murder), 506 (criminal intimidation), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means).
The court had discharged Mr Dhananjay for alleged offences under various provisions of the IPC, including 109 (punishment of abetment of offence) read with 302 (murder), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 307 (attempt to murder).