CHANDIGARH, April 22: The Beant Singh assassination case resumed today with witness Jasbir Singh (in whose house accused Balwant Singh was staying as a tenant) being recalled for evidence in State v/s Paramjit case. The same witness was yesterday examined in the Beant Singh case. The proceedings were delayed by about half an hour as the defence counsel failed to turn up. Also, just as the proceedings began, Paramjit Singh (who was on 16-day fast) was allowed to leave with the court's permission as he was not feeling well.The witness stated that between September 5, 1995, and April 3, 1999, the CBI or the Punjab police did not record his statement in any other court except this.Claiming that Balwant Singh never locked the room, the defence counsel asked the witness if he had told the CBI that Balwant had locked the room. He was confronted on this point as the defence counsel stated that he had not made such a statement before the court. The witness was again confronted when he stated today that on September 5, 1995, the SHO had taken him straight to his house from the women's cell. He had earlier stated that he had first been taken to the police station. Jasbir Singh also said that he did not enquire from the SHO as to why was he being taken along.
When asked how many CBI men were standing at the gate of his house, Jasbir said about four vehicles were parked and there were about 25 men. Regarding the lock, the witness said he did not know whether any memo was prepared when it was broken. The defence counsel, however, said that he was saying so because there was no lock on the door in the first place.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.