Justice Speeds To Guilty Verdict

Justice Speeds To Guilty Verdict 23 Jan 2009, 0800 hrs IST, Supriya Bhardwaj, TNN Text: CHANDIGARH: It was a case related to a shameful crime about "honour" as defined by closed minds. But it did no harm to the court's reputation when justice came within a record 10 days of the trial's beginning. District and sessions judge Raj Rahul Garg held Jaswant Singh, 45, and his son Sunil, 21, guilty of killing his daughter Promila, who was 19. Thursday's decision made the trial part of judicial history due to the speed with which it was arrived at. Police investigation in the case lasted four months. The trial needed three hearings in all. Charges were filed on November 20 and the first hearing was on January 12 when all the evidence was recorded. Final arguments were heard on January 15 with the decision coming on Thursday. Public prosecutor Manu Kakkar and investigating officer Davinder Sharma put in the effort for a quick trial as there were possibilities of witnesses getting influenced. For this, they rejected nine witnesses and relied upon the testimony of just seven. Cops summoned witnesses in advance and got their statements and those of the accused recorded in one day. Asked about the formula for a quick trial, inspector Sharma said that was only possible with a fair and thorough investigation. "Every case needs solid groundwork, which may take a long time. But that ensures there are no loopholes during the trial. This method can be repeated if witnesses cooperate during investigation," said Sharma, who also heads the city police's operation cell. Promila was in the fifth month of her pregnancy when her body was found in Kajehri village in July 2008. It was suspected to be a case of honour killing. Police said Jaswant and Sunil — both sanitation workers — had strangled her and then used a stone to smash her face. They had later poured acid on her face and torn her clothes. Police said this was done to make the investigators believe that it was a case of rape and murder. However, medical reports revealed the there was no rape. The witnesses were residents of the same village where the accused resided.

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