On Tuesday, the Special Court hearing the Elgaar Parishad case ordered both the accused and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take steps to proceed with the case, asking all all accused to remain present for the hearing next week, on April 27, for framing of charges.
If both sides cooperate, the trial can proceed by framing charges in the next hearing, Special Judge Dinesh E Kothalikar told the lawyers of the accused and the special public prosecutor for the NIA.
In 2018, nine accused were arrested by the Pune police. Seven others were arrested by the NIA in 2020 in the case. The trial in the case is yet to commence.
They had sought cloned copies of the electronic devices seized during the probe by the Pune police and the NIA, the accused had submitted to the special court. Since it forms part of key evidence, the accused require the copies before the trial starts to prepare their defence, the accused submitted.
Four copies were supplied to as many accused last week. On Tuesday, another five were also made available by the NIA. The lawyers in the case, some of whom represent more than one accused, collect the available copies, so that the case can proceed, The Special Judge directed.
“Considering the fact that only five clone copies are available and it would take further time for getting the remaining clone copies, in my view if the advocates representing aforesaid accused persons are directed to collect one copy each for proceeding with the trial, that would save time of the court…and trial can be proceeded with expeditiously,” the court said.
The court also directed the central agency to supply the remaining copies to the other accused by the next date.
“I am asking this to both parties. Are you interested to go on with the matter? Charges can be framed then. I need cooperation from both sides,” the court asked the lawyer of the accused persons and the prosecution.
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