HC orders recording of witness statement in custodial death case

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday ordered recording of statement of a man who claimed to be a witness to the alleged custodial death of a 34-year-old man.

Justice Siddharth Mridul ordered registrar appellate of the high court to personally escort Zahid Ahmed to Karkardooma court complex and get his statement recorded before a magistrate.

Ahmed, who appeared before the high court on Wednesday, told Justice Mridul that he had approached the special investigation team, which is probing the case, many times to get his statement recorded but no one paid him any attention.

The court was hearing the plea of the wife of victim Shahnawaz Chaudhary, seeking action against officers involved in the incident and a compensation.

According to the petition, the incident took place at Nand Nagri area of northeast Delhi on September 7 when the victim had tried to intervene in a road-side fight between a couple and police. He died under "mysterious circumstances" after being taken to a police station.