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Dismissed RPF constable booked for murder of senior, three other passengers seeks transfer from Akola to Mumbai jail

Singh is facing charges including murder, promoting enmity on grounds of religion for the deaths of his senior ASI Tikaram Meena, and three Muslim passengers Asgar Ali Abbas Shaikh, Abdul Kader Bhanpurwala, and Syed Saifuddin with his service rifle on the train.

Chetan SinghSingh claimed that when there were better options to shift him to Taloja central jail in Navi Mumbai or Mumbai central jail, he was sent to Akola jail, which is nearly 570 kilometres away from the sessions court in Mumbai. (Express File Photo)

Dismissed RPF constable Chetan Singh, booked for the murder of his senior and three other passengers on the Jaipur-Mumbai train on July 31 last year, approached the sessions court on Monday demanding that he be shifted from Akola central jail to Mumbai central jail.

The court sought a report by Mumbai central jail and Taloja central jail whether the accused could be lodged therein so that his trial could be expedited and the matter be proceeded. Singh’s lawyer also submitted that he wanted to move a discharge application in the case and require instructions from the accused regarding the same.

Singh is facing charges including murder, promoting enmity on grounds of religion for the deaths of his senior ASI Tikaram Meena, and three Muslim passengers Asgar Ali Abbas Shaikh, Abdul Kader Bhanpurwala, and Syed Saifuddin with his service rifle on the train.

Singh in his application stated that after completion of his police custody, he was initially remanded to Thane central jail in judicial custody but suddenly, without informing him or his advocates, he was shifted to the Akola central jail in Vidarbha region on the ground of his safety. Therefore, Singh’s lawyer argued that he could not be produced before the magistrate court in Borivali, Mumbai and on October 27 last year, the case was committed to the sessions court in his absence.

Singh claimed that when there were better options to shift him to Taloja central jail in Navi Mumbai or Mumbai central jail, which is also called Arthur Road jail, he was sent to Akola jail, which is nearly 570 kilometres away from the sessions court in Mumbai. Taloja and Arthur road prisons are more safe and convenient with 25 and 49 kilometres distance from the sessions court, respectively. Instead of shifting him there, he was sent to a jail which is remote and at an unsafe travelling distance in Akola district, he claimed. He added that he could not be brought before sessions court for long.

The application also stated that Singh was facing trial with serious offences and therefore to get fair trial and natural justice, his presence in courtroom is required to give proper information to his lawyer Jaywant Patil. Therefore, he should be shifted to the nearby jail.

Considering the submissions, facts and circumstances, additional sessions judge A A Ayachit issued notice to Akola central jail superintendent to produce the accused before sessions court. The judge also sought a report from Arthur Road and Taloja prisons whether Singh can be shifted there and posted further hearing to March 30.

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