CHANDIGARH, Dec 22: Gurkirat Singh, grandson of late Punjab chief minister Beant Singh and one of the seven accused in the Katia kidnapping and molestation case today denied all the charges of the prosecution, including forcibly taking and keeping her in illegal confinement. He was giving evidence in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Sant Parkash.Gurkirat also denied having knowledge of Katia's arrival from France to India and then to the city. He said he was not aware if she was residing in Mohali, adding that he was being falsely implicated in the case due to political rivalry.
Katia, a French tourist, was allegedly kidnapped and molested by seven youths on August 31, 1994 at Mohali.
In all, 37 witnesses were examined by the prosecution in this case. However, Katia's statement was left unrecorded as she did not dispose before the court despite several summons.
The case will come up for further hearing on January 4.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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