Additional sessions judge Santosh Snehi Mann cancelled the bail of the accused and also directed the police to take action against them.
A Delhi court has ordered the arrest of three accused facing trial in a robbery case, taking a serious view of charges of threatening the witnesses against them.
Additional sessions judge Santosh Snehi Mann cancelled the bail of the accused and also directed the police to take action against them, saying that some cognisable offences were apparently made out for allegedly intimidating the witnesses.
"In the facts and circumstances, it appears that the accused are trying to harass, intimidate, threaten and induce the witnesses," the court said, directing the police to take accused Mohd Nasir, Nazim and Mohd Salim into custody.
An application was made on behalf of the public witnesses in the court on November 19 last stating that as they were waiting outside for the matter to be called, somebody came and threatened them saying that they were wasting their time and that they should take money and go back to their native place in Rajasthan.
The accused, who were asked to explain the incident, took the alibi that they were with their lawyers then and blamed it on some touts who used to approach the parties and witnesses on their own and then charge the money.
"If the witnesses get frightened and succumb to the inducement or threats, the benefit goes directly to the accused and nobody else. Though the accused did not threaten the witnesses themselves but it is understandable and obvious that they will not do so personally," the judge said.
ASJ Mann rejected the contention of accused, who tried to put up a story of touts operating inside the court premises to threaten the witnesses to make money, terming it as "unrealistic to be believed".
The charges were framed against the accused on October 14, 2009 and they were granted bail in the robbery case registered in 2007 in the IP Estate police station.
On the very first date of recording of evidence on November 19 last, one of the accused was absent and the matter was kept pending awaiting him as the witnesses came from Rajasthan, the court noted.
When the matter was taken up in the afternoon, the witnesses' counsel appeared before it and demanded security for them, alleging that they were threatened with dire consequences for coming to depose and even offered Rs5,000 to Rs10,000 to settle the matter.
The court also directed the police post incharge of Tis Hazari court to file a status report in the matter before taking action against the accused.
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