As soon as 19-year-old Ram Pal, who had worked as domestic help in Singh's house, started telling the court about assault and cruelty meted out to him and other domestic helps employed there allegedly by Jagriti, Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal said he would conduct in-camera proceeding in the matter.
"I will conduct in-camera proceeding. I direct everybody else (except the accused, their counsel and prosecutor) to leave the courtroom," the judge said.
He told the court that when he and other domestic helps told Dhananjay about Jagriti's behaviour, the then MP used to say that "we should continue our work properly to avoid any beating."
The witness further said about one-and-half-month before Bhadra's death, Jagriti had assaulted him for seeking help of a guard posted there in putting car's cover.
"Around one-and-half-month prior to death of Rakhi Bhadra, one day I had taken help from a guard in putting the cover of car. On this issue, accused Jagriti Singh started beating me when I was just entering the room and said 'tu policewalon se dosti karta hai' (You are making friendship with policeman)," he told the court.
The couple were arrested on November 5, 2013 in connection with the death of their 35-year-old maid Rakhi Bhadra, a resident of West Bengal.
While Dhananjay is facing trial for alleged offence of destruction of evidence only, Jagriti was put on trial for various offences punishable under the IPC, including murder.