CBI assures HC to provide security to Jasbir
CBI assures the Delhi HC that full security will be given to US-based Jasbir Singh, a potential witness in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case involving Cong leader Jagdish Tytler.
CBI on Tuesday assured the Delhi High Court that full security would be given to US-based Jasbir Singh, a potential witness in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case involving Congress leader Jagdish Tytler.
The premier investigating agency said it would also bear the cost of security for Singh if he agrees to come to India and depose before the court as witness.
Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra appearing before Justice S K Mishra contended that it would be first time that the prosecuting agency would be bearing all costs incurred for a potential witness.
"We have told him to come to India at our expense but he has refused and is insisting on video-conferencing. It is not possible as we have to first investigate whether he is a credible witness or not," Malhotra contended adding that the investigation is a prerogative of the agency.
Singh had earlier filed a rejoinder through his counsel pleading that his testimony be recorded either in an American court or through video-conference as there is a danger to his life in case he visits India.
Singh, a California-based witness who was earlier declared non-traceable by the CBI, filed a petition seeking that the notice for his presence issued by the probe agency be quashed as he does not reside in India.
He submitted that till a decision is taken on his petition, the proceedings in the trial court be stayed and the CBI be restrained from closing the probe in the case.
The CBI, following a trial court order directing it to re-investigate Tytler's role in the case, had issued notice to Singh on January two under Section 160 of the CrPC, which empowers the probe agency to seek presence of a witness.
A city court on December 18 last year had rejected CBI's report seeking closure of the riot case against Tytler and directed the agency to re-investigate the case.