Court raps cops for 26-year delay in chargesheet

MEERUT: A court in UP's Bulandshahr has pulled up police for failing to file a chargesheet in a 26-year-old murder case despite arresting the accused, recovering the alleged murder weapon and even filing a separate chargesheet against him in an arms Act case.
The lapse, which allowed the accused to remain a free man for over two decades, came to light only when the arms Act case was recently heard in court.
Expressing strong displeasure over the negligence, the judge ordered immediate filing of the

charge sheet

and an inquiry into why it had not been submitted earlier. Police are now scampering to find answers and frame a charge sheet.
Accused's lawyer: Murder case did not reach court. What can we do?

In March 1999, 65-year-old Lakkhi Singh was murdered by unidentified assailants in Bulandshahr's Kotwali area. His son, Vijaypal Singh, lodged a police complaint, and an FIR was duly registered. During the investigation, police arrested Lakkhi's grandson and Vijaypal's nephew

Kailash Chand

, now 55 years old, accusing him of murder over a property dispute. A pistol allegedly used in the crime was seized from him, leading to a case under the Arms Act. However, Kailash was granted bail within days due to lack of evidence. Charge sheet for the murder, though, was never filed in court, and Kailash was never formally put on trial, allowing him to continue living freely.
District judge Manjit Singh Shyoran, who was hearing Arms Act case, discovered the "serious lapse" and questioned why the fard challan, a receipt issued when case documents are filed in court, was missing. The advocate handling the case must submit this receipt. If police had filed the charge sheet, the fard challan too would have been deposited.
Kailash's advocate, Dolly Sharma, criticised police for failing in their duty. "My client has been attending hearings for Arms Act case, but the murder case has not reached court. What can we do?"
Bulandshahr SSP Shlok Kumar confirmed receiving a letter from the court regarding the issue. "An in-depth investigation is underway," he said.
Officials are now trying to determine why the charge sheet was not filed, who was responsible for the error, and whether any police personnel should be held accountable now that a quarter of a century has gone by.