The Rohini Court has recently directed the concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) to appoint the sufficient police staff in order to the security of witness and the general public for Sagar Dhankar’s murder case hearing.
In this matter, there are 21 accused including Olympian wrestler Sushil Kumar. Therefore, the court directed to record the statement of other witnesses and victims in the liable witness room on the after date of the hearing.
The Shivaji Anand (Additional Sessions judge) has issued the direction after notice submission of police incharge based in the court premises & were responsible for the arrangement of the security.
Therefore, the court stated that” In view of the submissions of Incharge Police Post Rohini, concerned DCP Rohini is directed to depute sufficient police officials on the next date of hearing in consultation with Incharge Police Post Rohini Court.”
The court has also emerged directions to the incharge of the liable witness room.
The court further stated that, “In charge of the Vulnerable Witness Room is also directed to make the necessary arrangements on February 20, 2023, at 12:00 Noon for the recording of evidence.”
The court directed to send order’s copy to the concerned DCP as well as the Incharge of the Vulnerable Witness Room for compliance.
During the hearing, SI Sudeep, (In charge Police Post Rohini Courts) appeared and entreated that in the present matter, evidence could be conducted at Vulnerable Witness Room for the security purposes as it is very difficult to produce all the accused persons together in court no. 206 during the evidence’s recording due to a lack of police workforce.
Further, he submitted that the additional deployment of police officials will be required on the next date of hearing for security purpose of the witnesses as well as public persons.
The prosecution’s statement witnesses Amit Kumar & Jai Bhagwan was to be recorded but they moved an application for exemption.
The court then issued summons to prosecution witnesses Jai Bhagwan alias Sonu, Amit Kumar, Ravinder alias Bhinda and Bhagat Singh alias Bhagte for the next date of hearing.
On January 19, Rohini Court directed Delhi police for providing security to victim-witness Amit Kumar in view of the apprehension of his life and the threat extended to him.
The victim alleged that he and his family were threatened by gangsters that his family will get eliminated if he deposed anything against them in the court.
On the night of May 4, 2021, he along with Sagar Dhankar was beaten up by the accused persons at the Chhatrasal Stadium.
Amit sought a direction to record his statement through video conferencing or any of the other court.
The DCP was directed to appoint the two-armed police personnel with Amit Kumar during visitation to and from the court. The recording of his statement would be in the vulnerable witness room at the court complex.
Moreover, The Court directed,” Considering the threat perception and after hearing all the parties, the Court is of the view that DCP concerned shall take all safety and security measures and arrangement shall be made by at least appointing two armed police officials during the visitation of applicant/witness Amit Kumar from home to Court and after examination from Court to home for recording of his statement at Vulnerable Witness Room at Rohini Court Complex.
It is also directed that DCP concerned shall personally assess the matter regarding the threat of perception to witness/victim Amit and if deems necessary, it can provide additional security to him during his visitation to the Court for deposition or if consider necessary then he can provide security to him even before and after the date of examination of the witness.”
Advocate Nikita Garg and Paras submitted the counsel for Amit Kumar that the applicant is the victim in the present case who got mercilessly beaten by more than 20 hardened gangsters on the intervening night of 04- 05 May 2021 at Chhatrasal Stadium at Model Town, Delhi.
The counsels further submitted that the applicant was having the apprehension of his life as these gangsters threaten the applicant and his family members by different sources that they will eliminate the applicant and his family if he will give the statement against them.
Further, they submitted that the applicant/victim and the family members of the applicant are under deep apprehension and hence, requesting for conducting trial allowing the witness to depose through video conferencing in time bound to the manner or conduction of trial in any other District Court other than the Rohini Court.
It was submitted that the applicant Amit don’t want to depose in Rohini Court even if security is provided to him. He can either come to Patiala House Courts or at the Delhi High Court for deposition.
