Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 8: High Court today rejected bail application of Ch Nagar Singh in the much publicized supari killing case.
After hearing Advocate R K Kotwal for the petitioner whereas Deputy AG ZS Wattali for the State and Advocate Pranav Kohli for the Intervener, Justice Tashi Rabstan observed, “out of 25 prosecution witnesses listed in the charge sheet, only four witnesses have been examined by the prosecution”.
“Important and material prosecution witnesses are yet to be examined and it would be premature for the court to frame any opinion whether the petitioner-accused is guilty of the offence or not. More so, no developments have taken place in the trial of the petitioner since the bail application was rejected by the Trial Court and there is no new ground urged in the bail application which could persuade the Court to take a view other than the one taken by the Trial Court”, the Court said.
“The Court is of the considered view that severity and degree of punishment would be at higher side if the allegation leveled against the petitioner-accused is proved to be true. Since the trial in this case is at its infancy, it would be improper and premature to admit the petitioner accused to bail at this stage”, Justice Rabstan further observed, adding “in case concession of bail is extended to him at this stage, there is every likelihood that he may threaten or win over the prosecution witnesses thereby thwarting the course of justice”.
With these observations, the High Court dismissed the bail application. However, the Trial Court was directed to wrap up the trial of this case at the earliest by taking up this case twice in a fortnight. The prosecution was directed to ensure the presence of the witnesses on each and every date of hearing before the Trial Court.