Man exonerated in 13-yr-old attempted murder case

New Delhi, May 27 (UNI) A local court has acquitted a jeweller of a charge of attempted murder due to business rivalry and financial dispute in a 13-year-old case.

According to the prosecution, Manoj Godha, who had a jewellery shop at Oberoi Hotel, was going to his house at Golf Link Road by car along with his friend Kanwaljit Puri on December 2,1994. When they reached near 183, Golf Link Road, a car overtook them from the left side and someone from that car fired two shots which hit Manoj above his left eye. Kanwaljit Puri also felt pain in his left arm.

Manoj alleged that he was having a financial dispute with Subhash Chand Barjatiya of Lajpat Nagar, who had a jewellery shop at Maurya Sheraton hotel and who had earlier threatened him.

An FIR under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC was registered against Subhash at Tughlaq Road police station.

Mr H S Bhullar, counsel for the accused, said no prima facie case was made out against the accused as there was neither an eye witness to the alleged incident nor the complainant Manoj claimed to have seen the accused. He even failed to disclose the registration number of the car used in the incident. He further submitted that during investigation, the officer concerned recorded statement of two witnesses who had informed that Subhash, the accused, was in Jaipur at the time of the incident.

Additional Sessions Judge Ravinder Kaur, after hearing the argument, held the complaint lodged was based on suspicion and there were several litigations pending between the parties. Since there was not an iota of evidence on record that the alleged incident took place in furtherance of criminal conspiracy of accused Subhash, assailant prima facie, no case is made out to frame charge against him under sections 307 and 120 B of Indian Penal Code the court ordered to discharge the accused.

UNI