Srinagar sex scandal case hearing adjourned to Oct 3

Chandigarh, Sep 25 (UNI) A local court here today fixed October 3 as the next date of hearing against 14 accused in the sensational Srinagar sex scandal case when the court will frame charges against them.

District Sessions Judge B S Mehndiratta heard the arguments for the bail of four of the 13 arrested accused in the case, in absence of the media persons, who were asked by the judge to leave the court on the plea of the CBI counsel, before the commencement of arguments.

The counsel for the CBI had pointed out that the media had been barred from the court room during the procceedings in Srinagar as well on the directions of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

The Judge also issued notice to the CBI to explain whether anticipatory bail be granted to one Manzoor Ahmed, who has been approached by the CBI for joining in the investigations in the case.

All the 14 accused, including two former ministers Ghulam Ahmed Mir and Raman Mattoo, BSF DIG K C Padhi, former J and K Additional Advocate General Anil Sethi, DSP Mohammad Ashraf Mir, suspended Principal Secretary (Planning) Iqbal Khandey and a hotel owner Riyaz Ahmed Kawa, were present in the court.

The Supreme Court had shifted the trial of 14 of the 18 accused in the case from Srinagar to Chandigarh on September 4, following a petition of the 14 accused who had pleaded for their hearing outside the state.

They had contended before the apex court that ''no lawyer' in Srinagar was willing to defend them and the J and K Bar Association had already resolved not to give them any legal aid.

Out of the 14 accused being heard in the Chandigarh court now, 13 are behind the bars, while one is on bail.

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