SC declines petition regarding reopening of double murder ca

SC declines petition regarding reopening of double murder case The Supreme Court declined to entertain a petition challenging the reopening of a double murder case after a long gap of 24 years. A vacation bench comprising Justices B Sudershan Reddy and Aftab Alam was not impressed by the contention of senior counsel K T S Tulsi, who contended that his client would have to prove his innocence again after a gap of 24 years which was not permissible under law. Mr Tulsi also contended that after having been acquitted in the case, he had got married and got two children and had aged parents to look after-father above 80 years and mother about 75 years. Both were chronic patients and dependent on him as he was the only child of his parents. Maharashtra police has filed a fresh supplementary charge sheet on the basis of fresh evidence which was not available during the earlier trial which had ended in his acquittal. The apex court, however, dismissed the petition filed by Kanwar Deep Singh Bedi, who had challenged the fresh charge sheet on the grounds of inordinate delay. The apex court, however, made it clear that it was prepared to grant bail but will not quash the proceedings as two lives were lost in the crime allegedly committed by the petitioner and it was for the prosecution to prove his guilt. The petitioner also contended that fresh trial after a long gap of 24 years will violate his fundamental right of speedy trial since he was not responsible for the delay. He is already on bail granted by the Bombay High Court.