Hearing on Bhanwari trial adjourned till Nov 8

A Central Bureau of Investigation court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing till November 8 on charge framing against main accused Malkhan Singh Bishnoi, in the Bhanwari Devi abduction and murder case, as he failed to turn up.

Bishnoi had to appear in the court on Tuesday but he sought exemption from the appearance on the health grounds. Bishnoi, the only accused under judicial custody who is yet to be read out the charges, has undergone surgery in a Jaipur hospital early this month.

All the accused of the case were read out charges on October 4, except Mahipal Maderna and Bishnoi, who remained absent from the court on health grounds.

Maderna, however, appeared in the court on next date on October 15 but Bishnoi did not turn up, making the court to adjourn the charge reading on October 30.

"But he did not turn up today on health ground. He is still said to be admitted in the hospital in Jaipur," told Senior Special Counsel (CBI) Ashok Joshi. The court has now listed the matter for November 8 for reading out charges against him.

On the other hand, admitting the plea of Bishnoi expressing his inability to bear the expenditure of the police security, the court has directed the government not to charge for security from now on but has refused to return the money already deposited, which is to the tune of Rs 2.30 lakh.

Joshi said the court had allowed him to undergo treatment on the condition that he will have to bear the expenses of the security, which will be kept around him during his treatment in the hospital.

But now, expressing his inability to bear expenditure and citing the jail manual, according to which, the accused need not bear the expenditure on security, Bishnoi pleaded to return the deposited money.