Kachru case: Court decides to ignore anonymous letter

DHARAMSALA - A local court hearing the Aman Kachru ragging-to-death case Tuesday decided to ignore an anonymous letter sent to it alleging that the victim was talking to his girlfriend just before his death in 2009.

After hearing both defence and prosecution counsel, fast track court Judge Purinder Vaidya directed that the proceedings pertaining to the letter be dropped. He listed the case for next hearing Oct 28.

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.

Vaidya had sought replies of both the sides Sep 30 on the contents of the anonymous letter, which suggested that the girl, who is based in Delhi, should also be called to court 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 the state police.

Special Public Prosecutor Jiwan Lal Sharma informed the court that police have tried to investigate the origin of the letter, but could not find anything. Even the contents of the letter were not factually correct.

“We have not been able to ascertain the source of the letter. If we come to know (about the writer), we will register a case against him/her. All these allegations are baseless,” Sharma told Vaidya.

Aman’s father Rajendra Kachru has already 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,” said Justice D.D. Sud.