Delhi High Court orders extra protection for ’84 riots witness

The Delhi High Court has directed police to provide additional security to arms dealer Abhishek Verma, a witness in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.  Earlier, Verma had agreed to undergo a lie-detector test, scheduled between October 3 and 6, on the condition that he was provided round-the-clock security. Verma had said he feared a threat to his life. After a trial court passed an order directing police to provide him security, one security personnel was given to him.

Verma’s counsel told the court that as the arms dealer was receiving death threats over email and phone, additional security could be provided to his family. Justice I S Mehta directed the DCP (south) to provide two more security personnel for Verma and his family till October 10.

The judge also directed the Investigating Officer to reassess Verma’s threat perception after the test and inform the DCP.