HimVani
Shimla: A witness in the much celebrated Graft case has filed petition before Himachal Pradesh High court here yesterday, seeking deletion of his name in the lists of witness showing ignorance about the crime occurred. Meanwhile, prosecuting agency state is now contemplating to seek cancellation of bail granted to Union Steel Minster and his wife Pratibha Singh in this case by a special court here on December 17, 2010. Prem Chand Jain, a witness in graft case has filed a petition before division bench of HP High court comprising of Justice R B Mishra and Justice Surender Singh, alleging that police statement attributed to him in 161 CrPC in FIR No 27/09 was disowned, terming it forged. .
The court heard the matter and issued notice to the secretary Home and investigating officer (IO) Daya Sagar directing them to file a reply by March 3, 2011. Prem Chand submitted before the court that IO had come to his Delhi residence on March 25, 2010 and asked him to give a statement against Union Minister and his wife but he did not. Later, he came to know that his name figures among the lists of witnesses in the alleged graft case containing his statement. State government filed criminal proceedings against Union Minister Virbhadra Singh and his wife at special court here under Prevention of Corruption Act on October 1 and the case was under trial. The charge sheet filed before the court includes the name of petitioners containing his statement which serves as part of the prosecution case.
While talking to Himvani, state government persecutor Jaiwan Lal said that it seems that accused (Union Steel Minister) is trying to win over the witnesses. He said that state is thinking to seek cancellation of bail granted by the court recently as it may be used by the accused to win over the witnesses as he is powerful enough to influence the witnesses taking advantage of bail granted to him. However, he denied the media statement that Prem Chand Jain was key witness. He said that lists of witness is long on which prosecutions would prove charges in the court of law, which also includes the man who has allegedly bribed the accused form the integral part to establish that crime has occurred. Reacting over moving of petitions against the IO and state, persecutor said that it is still premature to be said that who should be dropped from the list of witnesses when the charged would be considered by the court on next date, March 5.
