KHWAJA YUNUS CASE: COURT RAPS STATE CID

MUMBAI: Expressing utter displeasure over the inordinate delay in concluding the trial in the Khwaja Yunus custodial death case, the city sessions court on Friday came down heavily on the state crime investigation department (CID) which has probed the case. Dismissed police officer Sachin Vaze is the prime accused in the case.

The court observed that despite serious allegations of murder, the agency officers did not attend court regularly nor did they appear serious in trying the accused, Vaze and three other police constables. The court said the state CID officers appeared before it only when they were summoned or issued show-cause notices.

Additional sessions judge Dr UJ More said that as police officers were named as the accused in the matter, the agency’s behaviour appeared suspicious.

The court had on Friday summoned the superintendent of police of state CID for expressing its displeasure over the lack of progress in the trial. “Despite being a 2004 matter, the case is still under trial. Witnesses have been asked to depose in steps. After all they are also human beings. How can they remember the incident after so many years?” the judge asked.

The court said it was injustice not only on the victims’ family, which is awaiting justice but, but also for the accused as they have a sword hanging on their head.

“Despite our several orders, summons to senior officers, not much has happened in the case. Still the agency is struggling to appoint a special public prosecutor (SPP) since 2018. This is mockery of justice and no heed has been paid to our directions,” observed judge More. The court pointed out that three SPP were already changed in the matter and the appointment of a fourth one was pending since 2018. The court also said that despite there been no stay on the hearings by any of the superior courts, the trial was not carried out in the custodial death case.

State CID superintendent of police Maruti Jagtap told the court that they had sent several reminders to the state government to appoint an SPP but there was no development. “You should not just send letters but personally visit the senior officials and make sure that by the next hearing an SPP is appointed,” said the court.

Yunus was arrested in the December 2002 BEST bus blast case. In January 2003, crime branch claimed Yunus had fled the custody when a police vehicle in which he was being taken to Aurangabad met with an accident. However, another accused claimed that he died of torture .