Ex-MP to face trial for tampering with evidence

Former parliamentarian Dhananjay Singh will be tried for destruction of evidence in a case pertaining to the torture and murder of his maid. The trial will begin July 2.

Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal framed charges of destruction of evidence against Singh.

After Singh pleaded not guilty and asked for trial, the court fixed July 2 for recording of statement of prosecution witnesses in the case.

The court on Friday dropped the charge of abetment to murder and others against Singh.

However, it framed charges under various other sections of the Indian Penal Code dealing with murder and criminal intimidation against his wife Jagriti.

The court has discharged Dhananjay Singh for the offences of intentional omission to give information of offence by person legally bound to inform, punishment of abetment of offence, read with murder, criminal conspiracy and attempt to murder.

Singh's counsel and advocate S.P.M. Tripathi, during argument on charges, said that it was his client who had informed police about the incident and he was not in Delhi from November 1 to 4, 2013, when the incident occurred.

The police in the charge sheet had alleged that Jagriti used to mercilessly beat her three domestic helps and 'compelled' them to work by holding them captive.

Police also claimed Singh and his wife might have 'tampered' with the footage of the CCTV cameras installed at his home.

The former MP from Jaunpur constituency of Uttar Pradesh is out on bail while Jagriti, a dental surgeon at a government hospital here, is lodged in Tihar Jail.

Singh, accused along with his wife of the alleged torture and murder of their maid, was charge sheeted on February 1 last year for various offences, including destruction of evidence.