Anonymous letter sent to Kachru case judge baseless: Prosecutor

DHARAMSALA - An anonymous letter, sent to the judge in the Aman Kachru ragging-to-death case, claiming that the victim had talked to his girlfriend just before his death is “baseless”, counsel for the Himachal government said Friday.

“We have not been able to ascertain the source of the letter. If we come to know, we will register a case against him/her. All these allegations are baseless,” the counsel told additional district and sessions judge Purinder Vaidya.

The letter, received by Vaidya, suggested that the girl, who is based in Delhi, should also be called as her testimony could prove vital to the case. It also contained some mobile phone details and the anonymous writer claimed to be working with police.

However, counsel for the accused sought time to file a reply on the issue of the letter.

The court has listed the matter for next hearing Oct 19.

Special Public Prosecutor Jiwan Lal Sharma told IANS that police have tried to investigate the origin of the letter, but could not find anything.

After receiving the letter Sep 30, Vaidya asked both prosecution and defence to assist the court in the matter.

Aman, 19, a first-year student of the Rajendra Prasad Medical College in Tanda town near here, died March 8, 2009, a few hours after being allegedly ragged by four final-year students.

Aman’s father Rajendra Kachru has deposed before the court and narrated in detail the sequence of events that led to his son’s death.

Kachru told the court Aug 28 that his son spoke to him in detail about the incident of ragging.

The court Aug 2 resumed the trial against four medical students - Ajay Verma, Naveen Verma, Abhinav Verma and Mukul Sharma - after they surrendered on cancellation of their bail by the Himachal Pradesh High Court.

The high court, which had initiated suo motu proceedings after bail was granted to them July 17, said: The order passed by the trial court granting bail to the accused is against law… accordingly quashed and set aside.

The trial court would ensure that the trial is conducted from day to day. The court would ensure that no undue and unnecessary adjournments are granted to either side, Justice D.D. Sud observed in a 37-page order.