New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday said it would hear on November 29 a plea filed by former union minister and Congress leader Jagdish Tytler challenging framing of charges, including murder, against him in a case related to the killing of three persons in Pul Bangash area during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri, while listing the matter for further hearing on November 29, asked the counsel representing the Congress leader to file statements of certain witnesses which were not on record.
Trial court on September 13 formally framed charges of murder, other offences against Tytler
The trial court had on August 30 said that there was sufficient evidence against Tytler in the case to put him on trial on various charges and had on September 13 formally framed charges of murder, rioting, promoting enmity between different groups, unlawful assembly, house trespass and theft against him after he pleaded not guilty to the offences.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CB) filed chargesheet against Tytler on May 20 last year.
Tytler has moved High Court seeking quashing of trial court order directing framing of charges against him
Tytler has moved the High Court seeking quashing of the trial court order directing framing of charges against him, claiming that the trial court has erroneously framed charges against him overlooking the settled principles of law on the point of charge and that the order of the trial court framing charges against him was perverse, illegal and lacked application of mind.
What did Tytler submit before the High Court?
Tytler, while submitting that he is 80 years old now and suffering from various health-related issues, has further claimed that this case was a “classic case of witch-hunt and harassment of the petitioner in which he is now being made to face trial for an alleged offence which was committed more than four decades ago.”
During the hearing before the High Court on Tuesday, the counsel representing Tytler raised a plea of alibi, claiming that the Congress leader was not present at the spot at the time of the incident, however, the CBI and the victims opposed the plea of alibi, submitting that it was already decided and rejected by the High Court, news agency PTI reported.
Tytler incited mob, which led to burning of three persons in Pul Bangash area on November 1, 1984: CBI chargesheet
The CBI has alleged in the charge sheet that Tytler incited the mob, which led to the burning of three Sikhs in the Pul Bangash area in the national capital on November 1, 1984, a day after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated in Delhi.
Tytler has denied CBI charges
Tytler has denied the charges and has submitted that he was not present in the Pul Bangash area on November 1, 1984 and he was at the Teen Murty Bhavan on that day looking after various arrangements there following the death of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.
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