Fresh warrant out,court asks CBI: Why can’t you arrest Sajjan?

“The CBI does not seem to be serious enough to apprehend the accused,” Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Lokesh Kumar Sharma said.

When the investigating agency’s counsel contended that the CBI had conducted four raids but could not nab the Congress leader,ACMM Sharma noted: “The CBI wants to complete only paperwork. These are all stereotype reports.”

“There is a slight suspicion on the genuineness of effort of the CBI,” the court observed. “Is this the manner the CBI functions? Where have all the accused gone?”

The CBI claimed that it had conducted raids at the residences of the accused but failed to apprehend them. At that,the court asked,“Is the non-bailable warrant to be executed at residences only?”

The court also raised other questions on the investigating agency’s conduct in the matter. “When warrants were issued on February 17,why did the efforts begin only on February 19?” the court asked.

The CBI has arrested Girdhari Lal,one of the 12 accused in the anti-Sikh riots that broke out after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984.

Producing Lal in court,the investigating agency asked the court to declare Sajjan Kumar and the other accused as absconders.

Lal has been remanded in judicial custody till March 9.

Opposing the fresh warrant,Kumar’s counsel I U Khan said,“My client is not running away and is exploring all statutory remedies available to him by approaching a higher court.”

Stressing that Kumar was “trying his luck”,the counsel sought exemption from appearance as the former MP’s anticipatory bail plea has been heard by the Delhi High Court,which has reserved its order.

In reply,ACMM Sharma said,“Let him try his luck.”

ACMM Sharma then asked for Kumar’s whereabouts: “Where is your client? The court is left at the mercy of the accused to appear in court.”

Khan refuted the CBI’s charge that Kumar is absconding. He said,“In case Kumar appears before the court and gets arrested,the purpose of filing anticipatory bail becomes redundant.”

Khan also said the accused has the right to explore all remedial measures.

But declining the plea by Khan and the other accused,the court issued fresh non-bailable warrants for March 10.