3 yrs on, rape trial against Dera Sacha Sauda chief begins
Monday, 18/02/2013
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/news/3-yrs-on_-rape-trial-against-Dera-Sacha-Sauda-chief-begins.html
CHANDIGARH: With the High Court dismissing the application filed by the rape victim against giving specimen of her signatures and handwriting in the CBI special court, Haryana, the rape trial against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has begun.
The father of the rape victim had filed an application in the High Court asking for waiver on giving the specimen of the signatures and handwriging in the CBI court on April 17, 2010, as the case had already reached the prosecution evidence stage.
The CBI court had asked the victim to submit the samples of her handwriting while acting on an application filed by the Dera chief’s counsel producing a ‘love letter’ of the woman in the form of defence.
On February 13, High Court dismissed the application of the woman’s father who had contended that the accused’s application demanding the samples of handwriting of the complainant should not be admitted as the case had reached the stage of the prosecution evidence in the CBI court already.
The defence counsel had filed the application in the special CBI court, Haryana, saying the samples of the woman’s handwriting were crucial in the case in order to prove that she had written the love letter.
The court stated that no prejudice was being shown against the victim by asking for the specimen of her handwriting and signature.
The court also felt that the samples of her handwriting, if taken at this stage, would avoid the delay in the disposal of the trial.
The special CBI court will now begin the rape trial against the Dera chief on February 19.
