Deadlock in Beant case ends

They had added that accused Shemsher Singh was interrogated in Saxena’s presence. Further, Shamsher Singh’s alleged confessional statement was prepared by him.

Saxena had also appeared before the court of the then UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Shekhar Dhawan, on September 5, 1995, much before the notification appointing him as the special prosecutor, the counsel had further added.

Alleging the involvement of the three officials in the investigations, the counsel had further demanded that permission to attend the court proceedings should be granted to only one constable.

Today, in his 17-page order, the Sessions Judge observed that prima facie it was difficult to accept Shamsher Singh’s allegations regarding Saxena’s active participation in his interrogation.

There was no reliable material on the record regarding the alleged confessional statement of Shamsher Singh being prepared in English by Saxena and translated into Punjabi by DSP Pal, the Sessions Judge further observed, adding that the objection was raised only after over 140 hearings.

He further added that on September 6, 1995, CBI prosecutor J. S. Sidhu, and not Saxena, was present in the then CJM’s court during the proceedings.

Regarding the presence of three “unnamed” CBI officials, he observed that prima facie, no prejudice was shown to have been caused to the applicant.

The case will now come up for further hearing on August 24 and continue for a week.

The trial against recently arrested proclaimed offender Paramjit Singh will also be taken up on the same date for consideration on framing up of charges.

It may be recalled that Puran Chand was the last witness to be examined in the trial. His cross-examination was in progress when the application was moved three months back.