The Delhi High Court, on Wednesday, directed the police to furnish the case diary and complete status report pertaining to the Jessica Lal murder case. A division bench headed by acting Chief Justice Vijender Jain passed the directions after expressing its displeasure over the delayed submission of records by the police in connection with the case.
Earlier during the day, Delhi police counsel Mukta Gupta furnished a sealed cover containing a crucial piece of evidence in the form of the disclosure statement made by prime accused Siddharth Vashisht alias Manu Sharma in May 1999, soon after the incident took place.
Gupta informed the court that the disclosure material, contained in a CD, was not considered by the trial judge while acquitting all the nine accused in the case.
However, Justice Jain wondered why such public documents should be submitted to the court in a sealed cover, and also why the Bench was not given sufficient time to peruse the same. Following this, the counsel agreed to give a synoptic note of the entire case, culminating with the acquittal of the accused.
Justice Jain then posted the matter for further hearing on May 8. The Bench had earlier, on February 24, while taking suo motu cognisance of the acquittals, issued notice to the city police commissioner to file a status report on the case.
However, following widespread public outrage, Delhi police also filed an appeal against the acquittals before a Bench headed by Justice Manmohan Sarin, which is hearing the matter.
Complete coverage: Jessica Lal case