Junaid lynching: Victim’s father demanded ₹2 cr, state reiterates

CHANDIGARH: A day after the Punjab and Haryana high court asked the Haryana government to clear its stand on the controversy surrounding the state’s claims that family of Faridabad Muslim youth Junaid Khan, who was lynched in June, demanded money for settlement, the government on Wednesday reiterated its stand on the matter.

An affidavit was filed by DSP (railways) Mohinder Singh on Wednesday stating that submissions of the petitioner (Junaid’s father) that he had not demanded money and had not attended a village meeting in village were “false”.

“..the deponent was informed by the secret informer about the participation of the petitioner in the Panchayat proceedings where the petitioner raised demand of ₹2 crore and 3 acre of land from the accused party for the settlement of the murder,” his affidavit says.

The DSP claimed that when he “exposed” the conduct of the petitioner, Jalaludin, he filed the plea alleging defamation and false accusations. The government had made the claim orally on Thursday in high court during the hearing of petition filed seeking CBI probe into Junaid’s murder. In the formal reply submitted on Tuesday the state had not reiterated the claims of DSP. However, upon notice from HC on father’s statement that accusations were made to malign his image, the DSP filed an affidavit on Wednesday.

The matter has now been adjourned till November 17 as court was informed that proceedings in the trial court has been adjourned till November 27.

Meanwhile citing huge pendency of cases before it, the CBI stated that the matter be not handed over it since it is overburdened. CBI responded to court’s notice whether it can take up the investigation.

The challan has been filed in a trial court in Faridabad and charges too have been framed against six persons including murder against a few. The lynching case had hit international headlines with accusations that those behind it were right wing sympathisers.