Court defers hearing on Soren till December 5

NEW DELHI: A Delhi Court on Friday fixed December five for hearing on the quantum of sentence to be awarded to former Union Minister Shibu Soren who has been convicted along with four others in a murder case.

Deferring the hearing following Soren's illness, the court issued notice to the AIIMS director to ensure his presence before it on December five for hearing of arguments.

Expressing displeasure over the medical report submitted by Delhi Police officials stating Soren was "clinically stable" and had no chest pain, Additional Sessions Judge B R Kedia issued the notice to the Director/ Medical Superintendent, AIIMS to ensure Soren's presence.

"The medical report sent through fax does not indicate at all that the condition of Soren was such that he could not be produced before this court from the hospital," ASJ observed.

The court said the report clearly reflected that the condition of Soren was stable as he had no chest pain.

"I do not think there is any justifiable reason as to why Soren was not produced," the court said.

While issuing notice, the court asked the Director/ Medical Superintendent of the hospital to either ensure Soren's presence or appear personally before it to explain the reasons for their failure to do so.

Meanwhile, Senior Advocate R K Anand requested the court that he be allowed to have a meeting with convict Soren in the hospital so that the arguments could be raised on his behalf.

To this, the court allowed Anand to have a meeting with Soren tomorrow.