Khalra case: Key witness aquitted in ''false rape case''

Patiala, Dec 22 (UNI) A lower court today acquitted an eye witness in Khalra case of the rape charges foisted against him in July 2003.

Sessions Judge Inderjit Singh today pronounced ordered Kirpal Singh Randhawa's acquittal after the defence counsel pleaded that the human right activist Randhawa had been framed in a rape case to ensure that he did not testify as a witness in the Jaswant Singh Khalra disappearance case.

A case was registered against him in July 2003 under section 376 of the IPC at Sadar Police Station, .

Kirpal Singh Randhawa, a resident of Kabir Park in Amritsar, is the key witness in the Khlara case as he says that he had seen officials who took Human Rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra away.

Randhawa has said he saw Satnam Singh of Chabbal Police Station with a clean-shaven driver. In the rear seat, Randhawa saw Khalra seated between two officers. As they drove by, Khalra called out to him that he was being abducted by the accused police officers, Randhawa maintains.

The defence had submitted that the rape case was foisted upon Randhawa by the police to ensure that he should not testify as a witness in the Khalra disappearance case.

UNI