Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) Ballistic expert Prem Sagar Minocha, accused of giving false testimony by allegedly introducing the two-weapon theory in the 1999 Jessica Lall murder case, claimed his innocence and told the Delhi High Court that he cannot be tried for perjury.

Minocha’s plea came as the defence ended its arguments in the perjury proceedings against hostile witnesses in the Jessica Lall murder case.

“The matter is fixed for April 21 for hearing rebuttal arguments on behalf of Delhi Police,” said Justices S. Ravindra Bhat and G.P. Mittal.

Counsel for ballistic expert Prem Sagar Minocha claimed his innocence before the bench, arguing that as expert witness, he could not be tried for perjury. “Minocha did not deviate from his report which was inconclusive,” said his counsel.

“I have never given two contradictory and conclusive reports and the notice for my prosecution for the offence of perjury was not maintainable as I was an expert witness and did not deviate from my report,” said Minocha’s counsel.

Opposing this argument, the Delhi Police counsel said: “It was Minocha, who during his cross-examination, introduced the two-weapon theory, which was contrary to the report, and helped the accused.”

Besides, Minocha there were eight more witnesses, whose arguments were concluded.

There were 32 eyewitnesses who went hostile, out of who three died and 10 were discharged.

The development occurred after Delhi Police earlier submitted in the high court a copy of the April 2010 Supreme Court verdict upholding the conviction of prime accused Manu Sharma for the murder.

The incident is of April 1999 when Lall was shot dead by Manu Sharma after she refused to serve drinks to him at a late night party at socialite Bina Ramani’s restaurant Tamarind Court in south Delhi.

The high court, which reversed the trial court’s verdict on Dec 18, 2006 and awarded life imprisonment to Manu Sharma, later issued notices to the witnesses asking why they should not be prosecuted for the offence of perjury.