The Rajasthan High Court recently issued an order to summon Additional Commissioner of Police, Jaipur, Rajasthan, Ajay Pal Lamba for recording his evidence as a witness in connection with Asaram’s appeal challenging his conviction by lower court in minor’s rape case.
The Bench of Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Vinod Kumar Bharwani issued the order while allowing an application filed by Asaram under Section 391 CrPC [Appellate Court’s power to take further evidence or direct it to be taken] to summon Senior IPS Officer Lamba as a court witness and to record his evidence based on certain excerpts of the book co-authored by Lamba.
The division bench comprising Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Rekha Borana, however, allowing the plea of defence ordered to summon Lamba on March 7 as a court witness stating that it would be premature to comment that the victim was tutored by some videography to describe the crime scene.
The court has also expressed displeasure on release of the book stating that it was absolutely unwarranted for Lamba to have published the while the matter was still pending consideration at the stage of appeal and it may be viewed as an attempt to influence the judicial proceedings
