The court took strong exception to the absence of Pal, who retired in 2005, and issued the warrant against him on Monday, clarifying the present warrant was to be executed through none other than the Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal.

“ACP Dharam Pal is absent despite service (of summons). Issue bailable warrant in the sum of Rs 500, to be executed through the Commissioner of Police,” Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Kumar said in his order. The court has now sought Pal’s presence before it on Tuesday.

Pal’s presence was sought by the court to assist it in the trial of the case but despite repeated summons, he had failed to appear. The court also issued bailable warrant against witness Devaram, who too has failed to appear in court.

Gurucharan Das, presently posted as ACP (Kamla Market), has also been summoned on February 26. According to the chargesheet, a series of blasts in transistor-like contraptions took place in buses and public places in Delhi, Sonepat and Sahibabad in May 1985 triggered allegedly by Khalistan sympathisers. The blast also seriously injured 65 people.