1993 Youth Cong HQ blast: Accused let off

A Delhi court today let off an alleged militant of banned Khalistan Liberation Force of charges of setting off a blast near the headquarters of Indian Youth Congress targeting its then president MS Bitta.

A Delhi court on Friday let off an alleged militant of banned Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) of charges of setting off a blast near the headquarters of Indian Youth Congress targeting its then president MS Bitta in which nine persons were killed in 1993.

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Harneik Singh was acquitted of the charges of triggering the blast, which left Bitta and 28 others injured, by Additional Sessions Judge JR Aryan of special TADA court.

The judge accepted the plea of Harneik that the confessional statement of co-accused Devender Pal Singh, who had been awarded death sentence in 2001 during a separate trial in the case, cannot be the sole ground to convict him.

The court said the confession, recorded under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, was admissible as evidence only against those co-accused who were tried together with the person who has made the statement.

The accusations, levelled in the confession against Harneik who remained elusive for 10 years, was not supported either by other independent witness or evidence, it said.

Initially, five alleged members of KLF -- Kuldeep Singh, Baldev Singh, Harneik Singh, Davender Pal Singh and Daya Singh Lahoria -- were named as accused.

Earlier in 2001, co-accused Davender was convicted and sent to gallows by the lower court for his involvement in the terror strike. However, another accused Daya Singh Lahoria was acquitted for want of evidence.

However, a separate trial against Harneik and Baldev could start only in 2004 when they were arrested by police.

The court, which proceeded with the trial against Harneik, however, discharged Baldev from the case in 2006.

Fifth accused Kuldeep Singh is still elusive and has been declared a proclaimed offender.

Nine persons were killed and 29 others including Bitta were injured on September 11, 1993 when an explosives laden car went off outside the IYC office at 5, Raisina Road.

The FIR, lodged with the Parliament Street police here, said the terrorists had used the timer device to explode deadly RDX kept in the Ambassador car.