The High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday refused to extend the deadline of August 31 for completion of the trial in a criminal case, in which the city police had filed chargesheet against eight persons related to the attack on officials and workers of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) when they were removing illegal hoardings, flexes at Ramamurthynagar police limits on August 2.
A Division Bench passed the order while rejecting an application filed by some of the accused seeking extension of 15 days to complete the trial while pointing out that they are filing a petition before the High Court seeking permission to recall two prosecution witnesses (PWs) for cross examination as the accused could not give proper instruction to their advocates for cross-examining the two witnesses.
However, the Bench allowed the plea seeking permission to recall the two witnesses for cross-examination. The 10th additional chief metropolitan magistrate court, where the day-to-day trial is going on, had rejected the plea for recalling the witnesses.
However, the Bench imposed a fine of ₹20,000 on the applicant for permitting them to recall two witnesses and asked them to pay the fine to the Chief Ministers Relief Fund - Natural Calamities - 2018. The Bench had said that two witnesses, who are the officials of the BBMP, should be present before the trial court for cross examination at 3 p.m. on Wednesday (August 29).
Also, the Bench reiterated that the Magistrate concerned shall proceed with the case on day-to-day basis assigning utmost priory to the case and conclude the trial by August 31 while asking all the concerned to cooperate in timely conclusion of trial.