Actress assault case: SC expresses displeasure in delay of trial

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed indignation in the delay of the trial completion in 2017 actress assault case. The court said it will not allow the reexamination of witnesses. The apex court has also directed the eighth accused Dileep to inform his response to the prosecution’s demand to examine 41 witnesses in writing within two days.

The Supreme Court had earlier asked the trial court to complete the trial by January 31. Appearing for Dileep, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi pointed out that in a letter addressed to the trial court judge on January 19, the prosecution requested to examine 41 more witnesses in the case.

Several of these witnesses were examined once. Rohatgi also claimed that they have not informed the court why these witnesses were being reexamined. Following this, a bench, comprising justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Dipankar Datta, said that it will not allow the re-examination of the witnesses. Meanwhile, the court has listed Dileep’s petition seeking resumption of trial for February 17.