3 more months given to secure Katia’s presence

CHANDIGARH, July 20: Granting a last opportunity to the prosecution, UT Chief Judicial Magistrate Sant Parkash today adjourned the Katia ...

CHANDIGARH, July 20: Granting a last opportunity to the prosecution, UT Chief Judicial Magistrate Sant Parkash today adjourned the Katia kidnapping and molestation case to October 7.

Today’s order assumes significance as the prosecution has been allowed nearly three months for securing Katia’s presence in the court. Their plea for the appointment of a commission for recording her statement in France had earlier been dismissed.

The prosecution had been granted a last opportunity on June 15 also while bailable warrants were issued against her by the CJM.

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Rejecting their plea for issuing warrants of arrest, an officer not below the rank of a Sub-Inspector had been directed by the CJM to deliver by hand the warrants to the Ministry of External Affairs.

Arguing before the court, Punjab District Attorney Himmat Singh today said that the warrants had been handed over and the Ministry of External Affairs was in touch with the French authorities.

Seeking adjournment for three months, he said that time was required as the warrants had to be executed in France.

Opposing the plea, the defence counsel contended that the prosecution was merely delaying the proceedings. Nearly four years had lapsed since the case came up before the court, they added.

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Katia Darnand, a French national, was allegedly molested after being reportedly kidnapped from her Kenyan friend’s residence in S.A.S. Nagar by former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh’s grandson on August 31, 1994. She had later expressed her inability to depose before the court, apprehending danger to her life.