Another U-turn by Buti Ram: ‘I was threatened not to depose against MLA’

A fortnight back,Ram was declared hostile by a Panchkula court after he had given a clean chit to Chaudhary,refusing to identify him in an open court.

Acting on Ram’s complaint,the Panchkula Police has decided to register an FIR against Chaudhary,his wife and those named by the father in his complaint.

Ram also produced a CD allegedly containing recorded conversation between him and two persons who allegedly threatened him.

“We have decided to register an FIR in the matter and would book Ram Kumar Chaudhary,his wife Nidhi Chaudhary,Rajendra Kumar,Laddu and his wife,and other unidentified persons for threatening a person to give a false statement,voluntarily causing hurt and criminal intimidation under the IPC. We would also provide security to Ram and his family till they get security from the Punjab Police,” said Rajbir Deswal,Commissioner (Ambala-Panchkula).

Asked why he did not level these allegations against Chaudhary in the court on December 23,Ram said,“I was afraid. However,I have now realised that I should have spoken the truth in the court. Now I would not retract from my statement again.”

Rebutting the allegations levelled against her,Nidhi,wife of Ram Kumar Chaudhary,said,“I have never met Buti Ram in my life. I just saw the news on television. This is all politically motivated and a publicity stunt.”

“The allegations levelled by Ram are completely baseless. It is a publicity stunt by Ram and his lawyers,” said Vishal Garg Narwana,the defence counsel for the MLA.

“Perjury proceedings can be initiated against Buti Ram as he had taken an oath while deposing before the court. Not only did Ram retract from his initial statement,but he also supported the defence in moving the case in favour of the accused,” said advocate Rabindra Pandit.

THE COMPLAINT

The alleged conversation mentions bribes being offered to Ram on three occasions: Rs 1 crore before registration of the initial FIR in November 2012,Rs 70 lakh before framing of charges against Chaudhary in the court and later Rs 20 lakh on December 1 last year.

In his complaint,Ram has alleged that on December 1,one Laddu and his wife visited Ram’s residence and took him to a tea stall near Hoshiarpur bus stand. As Ram was already stressed with the alleged threats issued to him in 2012,he decided to record the conversation between him and the two accused on his mobile phone. Ram alleged that the two threatened him not to testify in the court.

Thereafter,on December 6,Laddu and one Rajendra Kumar visited Ram’s house and allegedly threatened him not to give a testimony in the court. On this,Ram filed a complaint with Bhunga police post in Hoshiarpur on December 12. On Friday,Ram claimed that he had been called to Bhunga police post on Saturday regarding his complaint.

Thereafter,around 1 pm on December 22,Ram reached the residence of his counsel Jitender Seharawat here in Panchkula. Ram’s daughter Ishu along with one Hira and driver Ranjit were also present at that time. The four then went to a hotel in Manimajra where they had planned to stay overnight as the next day Ram was to testify in the court.

However,around 5 pm,Ram received a call from his brother-in-law Lakhwinder who told him that his wife was unwell. When Ram reached home around 10.30 pm,he found that his wife was fine and that an unidentified person was present at his house along with Lakhwinder. The unidentified person told Ram to come along with him to Bhunga bus stand. On reaching there,Ram noticed a car. Present in the car were Rajendra Kumar,an unidentified lawyer and a woman,who claimed to be the wife of Chaudhary.

Thereafter,the unidentified person allegedly pushed Ram into the car and slapped him. The four then told Ram that they could pose a life threat to him and his family and that he should not testify against Chaudhary in the court.

Then at 4 am on December 23 last,Ram along with his lawyer Sehrawat,brother-in-law Lakhwinder and driver Ranjit headed towards Panchkula court from Bhunga village in a taxi. As they reached Mohali,an unidentified car intercepted their taxi and blocked its way,alleged Ram. Four unidentified persons,armed with guns,came out of the car and threatened Ram not to testify in the court,failing which they would kill him.

The same day in the court,Ram turned hostile and refused to recognise Chaudhary. In his complaint,Ram also said that even after turning hostile,he was so frightened that he stayed at his brother-in-law Tarsem Lal’s residence in Ludhiana for the next three days.