PANCHKULA: A local court on Monday framed charges of murder against Congress MLA from Himachal Pradesh, Ram Kumar Chaudhary, almost eight months after his name figured in the mysterious death of a 24-year-old dalit girl here. While the girl was initially found to have been killed in an accident, investigations later revealed that she was murdered and her cellphone records led police to Chaudhary.
Apart from murder, district and sessions judge Ravi Kumar Sondhi framed charges against the first time MLA for cheating, forgery, tampering with evidence and Section 3 of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The trial will begin on August 22.
The victim, Jyoti from Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, was found dead in Panchkula on November 22 last year, apparently run over by a truck.
However, her post mortem report revealed that she had died of head injuries and had undergone abortion before her death. It was only after examining Jyoti's cell phone call records that the role of the MLA and his accomplices came under the scanner.
Besides Chaudhary, the court has also framed charges against four others — Chaudhary's relatives Gurmeet Singh and Dharampal, his employee Paramjeet Singh, Tilak Raj (who allegedly drove the truck over Jyoti) — for murder and destruction of evidence. All the five accused are currently behind bars.
Seven more persons, who were booked by police in connection with the case, have also been charged for forgery, cheating and harbouring the accused. On April 3 this year, the Panchkula police had filed the chargesheet against Chaudhary and others.
Meanwhile, Chaudhary's bail pleas was rejected by the court and his counsel said they would approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Chaudhary dealt in real estate in Himachal's industrial hub of Baddi before being elected on a Congress ticket from Solan district's Doon constituency in the November, 2012 assembly polls.
The Himachal Pradesh Congress has said it would decide on Chaudhary's fate only after a verdict in the case. Chaudhary was suspended from the party after an FIR was registered against him in the case.
Jyoti Murder Case: Timeline
2012
Nov 22: Jyoti's body recovered; police find Chaudhary's visiting card; MLA's mobile phone switched off
Nov 24: Jyoti's kin provide pictures of Chaudhary attending marriage of victim's younger sister; Autopsy report reveals she had undergone abortion in August 2012
Nov 25: Police raid Chaudhary's house in Baddi
Dec 20: Chaudhary elected to HP assembly from Doon
Dec 20: Panchkula court issues arrest warrant against Chaudhary
2013
Jan 8: MLA surrenders before Panchkula court
Jan 16: Himachal Congress expels Chaudhary
Mar 19: Punjab and Haryana high court calls for investigation report on complaint by Jyoti's family
Apr 3: Panchkula police file chargesheet against MLA and others
May 1: High court stays framing of charges after hearing a petition from Jyoti's father
July 2: HC vacates stay and asks trial court to consider SIT report
July 29: Panchkula court frames charges against MLA and others
0 comments:
Post a Comment