Witness security led court to deny bail to 2G scam accused

The victim and witnesses should feel secure to tell the truth and for that accused might be kept in custody till their evidence is complete, a Delhi court said on Thursday, dismissing the bail pleas of DMK MP Kanimozhi and seven other accused in the 2G case.

"If the witnesses do not gather courage to tell the truth before the court, the tripod (of accused, victim and witness) would break down and truth will not come out and cause of justice would suffer," said Special CBI Judge O P Saini while dismissing the bail pleas.

"One way of generating the sense of security in the mind of victim and the witnesses is to keep the accused in custody till their evidence is complete," he added.

He said the courts have to strike a balance between liberty and rights of accused and safety and security of the witnesses to ensure fair trial.

"In the given case, victim and witnesses may be from the same group or family or they may be totally unconnected as one may be victim or witness by a quirk of fate or just by unfortunate circumstances.

"Victims and witnesses cannot be left to their own fate while protecting the rights of the accused. They also must have a sense of security and safety and must have a feeling that no harm would come their way by just being witness in a case and disclosing the truth before the investigating agency and the court," the judge said.