CHANDIGARH, April 23: Katia kidnapping and molestation case continued here today with UT Chief Judicial Magistrate Sant Parkash granting a final opportunity to the prosecution for informing the court regarding the implementation of an agreement signed with France for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.The CJM, while adjourning the case to April 30, ordered that arguments on the commission's appointment will be heard on merit following the prosecution's failure to place "positive results" before the court.He further directed the prosecution to contact the Embassy of India in France for obtaining Katia's willingness to depose.The CJM, on the last date of hearing, had directed the prosecution to depute a messenger, not below Under Secretary's rank, for inquiring about the current status of the agreement, from the Ministry of External Affairs.Earlier, the prosecution had stated that the agreement had been signed in January this year, but was yet to come into force as certain prescribed formalities had to be completed.Meanwhile today, Punjab District Attorney Himmat Singh, at the very onset, stated that the French authorities had failed to respond, according to the Embassy of India in Paris. A letter from under secretary (Home), Department of Home Affairs and Justice, Ranbir Singh, was also submitted before the court to substantiate the contentions.Opposing the prosecution's plea for additional time, the defence counsel stated that the prosecution was merely delaying the matter and nothing concrete had turned up ever since the application for the commission's appointment was moved a year and a half back. Katia, a French tourist, was allegedly kidnapped and molested on August 31, 1994.
