By IANS,
Patiala (Punjab): Bibi Jagir Kaur, who was allegedly involved in the murder of her own daughter, saw a major turning point in her case as the main complainant turned hostile in the court here Thursday.
Complainant Kanwaljit Singh, who had allegedly married Jagir Kaur’s daughter Harpreet Kaur, stated before the court of district and sessions judge Varinder Kumar he had never married Harpreet.
Singh, who had remained absent in the last two hearings of the court, also blamed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of unnecessarily harassing him and filed an application in the court, seeking protection from the CBI.
“Kanwaljit has admitted before the court that he had not filed petitions in any court for the registration of an FIR against Bibi Jagir Kaur. These were filed by some unscrupulous human rights organisations,” said Maninderpal Singh, counsel of Bibi Jagir Kaur.
Jagir Kaur, who was granted anticipatory bail in this case, was also present in the court and she heard all arguments that went on for over an hour.
She is a former Akali Dal legislator from Punjab and is considered very close to state Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
CBI counsel S.K. Saxena informed the court that the complainant Kanwaljit Singh has turned hostile.
Harpreet Kaur died under mysterious circumstances April 20, 2000, following which she was cremated hastily by family members.
CBI had filed a charge-sheet against Jagir Kaur, accusing her of murdering her pregnant daughter around nine years ago, in a Patiala court.
Condemning this development, Punjab Congress legislator Sukhpal Singh Khaira, said: “This move has exposed the rot in our judiciary. Complainant Kanwaljit is from an ordinary family and he has fallen prey before rich people like Jagir Kaur.”
“For the past many years Kanwaljit was running from pillar to post seeking justice, and now suddenly he turned hostile. He has made a mockery of our courts. Therefore, we also demand strict punishment for him,” Khaira told IANS.
Patiala town is around 70 km from state capital Chandigarh.