In an intriguing twist to the ongoing trial in the murder of his domestic help, former BSP MP Dhananjay Singh’s wife on Monday urged the court to name two other helps as co-accused in the case. Jagriti, the former MP’s wife, is the main accused and the two helps she wants named as co-accused, Rampal and Meena, are eyewitnesses in the case. The court of Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal will pass its order on her plea on Tuesday. Rampal and Meena have been named as key prosecution witnesses by Delhi Police. The prosecution on Monday opposed the plea, arguing that Rampal and Meena too were physically abused by Jagriti, and had received fractures and injuries as a result. [related-post] The prosecution argued that the court, based on admissible evidence on record, had already taken cognisance of the offence and that under Section 132 of the Evidence Act, a witness shall be excused from answering any question related to the crime on the ground that the answer will lead to criminal proceedings against him. Jagriti’s counsel argued that since the prosecution was relying on CCTV footage, the footage also allegedly showed Rampal and Meena physically abusing Rakhi, the help who died. “From analysis of the alleged CCTV footage from November 1, 2013 to November 4, 2013, which has not been admitted, Rampal and Meena are seen beating and torturing the deceased. They have acted in a manner that indicates their involvement in the death of deceased,” the plea states. Jagriti’s counsel claimed that the CCTV footage of the servant room allegedly showed Rakhi lying on the floor and, minutes later, being beaten up by Rampal, Meena and Jagriti. Another footage cited by Jagriti is of the dining room, which allegedly shows Rampal giving Jagriti a hot knife which she uses to harm Rakhi.
