Chandigarh, January 24
The UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr H.S. Bhalla, today reserved order on the bail plea moved by Navjot Singh, one of the accused alleged to have been involved in the Beant Singh assassination case, for tomorrow.
Claiming that the release of the accused on bail would jeopardise the trial, the CBI counsels, Mr S.K. Saxena and Mr R.K. Handa, stated in the reply: “It is clear that the prayer of bail made by Navjot Singh has been declined many a time on merit and otherwise and no fresh ground is made out for his release on bail”.
Further opposing the bail plea, the CBI counsel further stated that the prosecution evidence was being recorded for seven days in a month. So far, 208 prosecution witnesses have been examined and their statements have been recorded.
On the other hand, arguing that the applicant, Navjot Singh, deserved the concession of bail, the defence counsel, Mr N.S. Minhas, stated that Navjot had been lodged in the jail for no apparent reason and all witnesses produced by the prosecution had turned hostile. The defence counsel further stated that the statement of Jagtar Singh Tara, another accused in the case contained many names and the remark that the applicant was living in Phase-7 was totally wrong. The fact was that the applicant had never met Tara. Also, the statement made by another accused, Balwant Singh, did not contain the applicant’s name in the conspiracy.
