Court upholds acquittal of former DU principal

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday upheld the acquittal of a former Delhi University college principal and five others, accused of assaulting a fellow lecturer 26 years ago.

Justice G.S. Sistani dismissed the Delhi government appeal against a Metropolitan Magistrate’s 1987 decision to acquit former Ramjas College principal Kartar Singh and five others, saying their acquittal was “just and did not require its interference”.

“There is no explanation as to why complainant (Dalip, a lecturer in the same college) did not make the statement before the police at the first available opportunity. This raises suspicion towards the correctness of the complaint,” the judge noted.

History teacher Dalip, who was riding a scooter, was assaulted by six car-borne assailants in Civil Lines area in north Delhi on February 16, 1982. Later, he was admitted to Hindu Rao hospital, the prosecution said.

The victim, in his statement to the police, alleged he was assaulted by the former college Principal, physical instructor J.P. Singh and Virender Singh, among others.

The High Court concurred with the findings of the magistrate and noted that the delay in recording of Dalip’s statement with the police proved that allegation was a “tutored one” and could not be relied upon.