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Sidhu Moose Wala case: Police weigh security perils in gangsters’ court appearances
After filing of the chargesheet, out of the total 27 accused, more than 15 have not been produced in the court so far
With producing all the accused in the Sidhu Moose Wala murder case in court becoming a challenge, the Mansa police on Tuesday said that the accused, lodged in prisons across Punjab, will be presented in court after overseeing the security arrangements, while the hardcore criminals among them will be produced only through video conferencing.
Even four months after filing the first chargesheet in the case, out of the total 27 accused, more than 15 have not been produced in the court so far. Some of the accused are yet to get copies of the chargesheets filed against them.
On repeated occasions, the court has issued production warrants against the accused in prison for answering to the charge of offence, but the accused have not been presented in court by the jail authorities. The legal experts say that the delay will slow down the pace of the trial.
Mansa senior superintendent of police Nanak Singh said that the security aspects have been discussed.
“Now we are planning not to bring the hardcore criminals in this case to the court in person, they will be presented through video conferencing. While other accused will be presented in the court only after overseeing the security arrangements,” he added.
When gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was brought on production warrant from Delhi, nearly 100 policemen were escorting him in a convoy comprising two dozen vehicles, including a bulletproof one. A similar procedure was followed whenever he has moved anywhere in Punjab.
Jaggu Bhagwanpuria was also produced under heavy security. Among the 27 accused, 10 are hardcore criminals facing at least 30 criminal cases, including murder.
An official privy to the development said that it poses a risk to bring all of the accused together in the court as it will require heavy security arrangements and weak infrastructure is causing trouble in presenting them through video conferencing as all the jails have to be connected at one time.
During the last hearing, three accused- Monu Dagar, Pawan Kumar Bishnoi and Nasib Deen- were produced by the Faridkot jail authorities through video conference.
“Remaining 24 accused were not produced by the jail authorities despite the fact that the production warrants of the accused were issued on the last date of hearing. Let production warrants of these accused persons be again issued for January 19,” said chief judicial magistrate, Mansa, Atul Kamboj in order dated January 5.
Mansa court denies bail to 2 accused
The court of additional session judge, Mansa, has dismissed the bail applications of two accused in the case. The bail applications of Prabhdeep Singh Babbi and Manpreet Singh Bhau were dismissed by the court, observing that “if the accused is released on bail, it is very likely that they will tamper with the evidence and give threats to the witnesses.”
However, another accused Manmohan Singh Mohana has moved an application in the court seeking bail.
As per norms, the court has provided a lawyer to the accused under free legal aid as Mansa-based advocates have refused the defend the accused in the case.
