Paternity row: HC rejects N D Tiwari's plea

The court asks Tiwari to appear before the Local Commissioner

The Delhi High Court today rejected senior Congress leader N D Tiwari's plea to hold his cross-examination, in a paternity suit filed by a youth seeking to declare the Congress leader as his biological father, at a place other than the court complex.

The court also asked Tiwari, the 88-year-old Congress leader, to appear before the Local Commissioner, appointed by the court, for recording of evidence in the paternity suit, on October 8 and the dates to be fixed by the Commissioner.

Justice Vipin Sanghi rejected Tiwari's plea to hold the cross examination at Nehru Bal Bhawan, UP Sadan or Jawahar Lal Nehru National Youth Centre instead of Delhi High Court.

The court said in its order that other witnesses in the case have been cross-examined in the high court and Tiwari's cross examination, by the counsel for 32-year-old Rohit Shekhar and his mother Ujjawala Sharma, will also be held in the high court.

The court recorded the argument of Rohit's counsel Vedant Verma that the court should take note of Tiwari's conduct that he has been attending party rallies and other public functions but avoiding appearance in court for cross examination.

Giving a last opportunity to Tiwari to file his affidavit in evidence, the court said he has to file the affidavit within a week.

On August 21, local commissioner S M Chopra, Retired Additional District Judge, after recording the submission of the counsel, concluded the recording of evidence after Tiawari failed to file his affidavit in evidence.

"....In the absence of affidavit in evidence of the defendant (Tiwari), the recording of evidence by the commissioner stands concluded," the commissioner had said.