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Cross-examination of Ravi on Thursday
[ Newindpress.com ]
Wednesday April 6 2005 00:00 IST
KANCHEEPURAM: Arguments between the prosecution and defence cousel on Tuesday resulted in the cross-examination of approver Ravi Subramaniam in the high-profile Sankararaman murder case being posted to Thursday.Advocates for Jayendra Saraswati and Vijayendra Saraswati filed petitions under Sec 317 in the Kancheepuram Judicial Magistrate’s court pleading that they be exempted as they had various poojas to perform.
When Special Public Prosecutor V Balasundaram stated that Ravi Subramaniam was to be examined on Tuesday, defence counsel objected, stating that his examination should be taken up only after the court decides on the request of Appu (accused No.5) for a copy of the chargesheet in Telugu.
Immediately, the Public Prosecutor handed over to the magistrate a letter which stated that between 1967 and 1974 Appu had studied in the Thyagaraja Higher Secondary School, in Chennai, with Tamil as his first language. The school headmaster had given this in writing to Kancheepuram SP Premkumar, he added.
Defence counsel Rajarathinam objected saying that only a petition on the issue should be presented, instead of the letter itself. If the prosecution handed over letters it would lead to suspicion about their authenticity, he added.
Lakshmana Reddiar, another defence counsel, said it was surprising that the police were handing over Appu’s letter instead of a petition in this connection.
The defence lawyers, including Lakshmana Reddiar, Solomon Francis, and K S Dinakar demanded that the court issue them a list of documents submitted by the police as only then would they be able to check it. If the police submitted new documents during the trial, it could affect the position of the accused, they added.
Balasundaram said that under Sec 207, only copies of the FIR and statements under Sec 161 and 164 could only be given to the defence counsel.
Advocate Dinakar said only the court could decide on issuing the list and not the government prosecutor. When Balasundaram complained that the defence was exceeding limits on this issue, the defence lawyers said they were only demanding their rights.
When Magistrate G Uthamaraj posted the matter for Thursday, prosecutor C Baskaran said the plight of Ravi Subaramaniam should be borne in mind as his cross-examination was being needlessly delayed due to the defence filing petitions on some pretext. As there were 24 accused, it would prolong the case needlessly, he added.
Prosecutor K Arumugam said the defence could not dictate terms to the court. They should only request, he added. Posting the case to Thursday (April 7) Magistrate Uthamaraj said the case would be taken up at 12 noon.
Verdict on issuing the chargesheet copy in Telugu to Appu would also be decided on that day, he added.
Earlier, there was some unpleasantness when the media were not allowed inside the court by police who said this was on the orders of SP Premkumar and because the magistrate had also ordered so.
The journalists refused to budge, saying they would leave only if the magistrate ordered them to. The Magistrate then ordered that those not connected with the case should leave and ordered the journalists to stay on one side. Advocate Lakshmana Reddiar said the Press should stay inside as the proceedings were open and not in-camera.
The Magistrate settled the issue saying that he had asked some to leave only due to paucity of space.
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