Prof's murder: witnesses turn hostile

Ujjain, Feb 5 (UNI) In a new turn to the last year's Professor H S Sabharwal murder case in student violence in Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh, two main prosecution witnesses today turned hostile before a local court and refused to recognise accused in the case but admitted that the incident took place.

Madhav College's Prof Sabharwal had died in student violence that erupted over postponement of student union elections on August 26, 2006.

Its investigation was entrusted to the CID, which had named six ABVP workers, including the then state unit president Shashiranjan Akela, secretary Vimal Tomar, as accused in the case and charged them under section 302 of the IPC.

Eyewitness and Madhav College chowkidar Komal Singh Parihar refused to recognise main accused before District Sessions Judge A K Sharma's court saying he was unable to recognise who beat up Prof Sabharwal from a crowd of 20-25 people.

Another Madhav College employee, Manohar Singh, also refused to recognise the accused.

All the accused including Tomar, Akela, Sudhir Yadav, Hemant Dube, Vishal Rajoria, and Pankaj Mishra were present in the court.

Public Prosecutor Vikram Singh declared the two prosecution witnesses hostile. He said 98 witnesses were slated to record their statements but only 48 of them would record statements. Recording of statements will continue for the next two days.

Prof Sabharwal's son Himanshu Sabharwal has submitted an application to the District Collector demanding that the Public Prosecutor be replaced.

UNI