Accused pulls out knife in court, says cops gave it to him

Raising very serious concerns about security at Tihar Jail, Ravi Kapoor, key accused in the murder of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan, shocked everyone in a trial court on Thursday by pulling a knife out of his pocket. Kapoor also alleged that the cops had given him the knife to attack undertrials in Tihar Jail.

Kapoor, facing prosecution in several criminal cases including the murders of Vishwanathan and IT executive Jigeesha Ghosh, was on Thursday produced in court in connection with a case filed against a failed attempt of his to flee from police custody from a hospital.

Catching everyone in court by surprise, the accused took out a knife from his pocket to prove his allegation that the knife had been given to him by policemen to attack other undertrials inside the lock-up at the Patiala House courts complex.

Shocked by such an allegation, the court asked the jail superintendent for an explanation. "Tihar jail superintendent (high risk cell) is hereby directed to file an explanation to the allegations of the accused by June 4 before the court,” metropolitan magistrate Veena Rani said.

After the unlikely allegation made by Kapoor, the court ordered seizure of the knife and asked the policemen escorting Kapoor and the official in charge of the lock-up to file a written response during the day. The replies of the policemen and the official were taken on record for consideration by MM Rani, who was hearing the matter in the absence of the regular judge MM SPS Laler, and who put up the matter for consideration on June 4.

The court, meanwhile, directed the Tihar jail superintendent to ensure the accused is not assaulted or harassed inside prison. A sessions court had earlier framed charges against five persons, including Kapoor, for their alleged roles in the murder of Vishwanathan, who was a TV journalist. Kapoor is also charged under the stringent MCOCA for running an organised crime syndicate in the capital.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Delhi/Accused-pulls-out-knife-in-court-says-cops-gave-it-to-him/articleshow/5955933.cms