Prof witness wasn't probed well

Ujjain (MP): The CID has questioned the manner in which the prosecution is handling Prof Sabharwal murder case.

One of the witnesses Shankar Rao Bhogde has now revealed information that could've helped establish the location of the accused on the day of the murder.

Bhogde says he didn’t share the information with the court as the prosecution did not ask him relevant questions.

Several other eyewitnesses including the police photographer and the then college principal were allegedly also not asked questions that would've established the presence of the accused on campus.

Earlier, the prosecution refused to take senior police and administrative officers as witnesses saying there were directly associated with the law and order situation outside the gate where the professor was beaten to death.

The events bring to focus the urgent need for training and a comprehensive eyewitness protection programme. But in this case, neither the Madhya Pradesh government nor the police stepped forward to support prime witness and the peon at Madhav College, Komal Singh.

“I have little kids. This has become a political wrestling match. I might be killed so I don't want to be involved in any politics. Let me be free,” says Singh who can no longer take the pressure of being the only witness to have filed an FIR

So much so that he now does not even want to remember the incident. “I don't want to remember the incident. I have been suffering for six months taking a guard with me,” he says.

The other witnesses in the case include several Ujjain police officials, but none have come forward, upsetting Komal Singh even more.

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“Nobody had the courage to file an FIR. You tell me whose support should I take to speak up in court?” he says.

It was, in fact, along with the physical instructor at Madhav college, Manohar Dodia, who took Sabharwal to hospital.

“We had a Maruti van. I shouted for help. We put him in the van. His head was on my lap. As soon as we crossed the gate, his neck went limp. He died before reaching the hospital,” he recalls.

Barely able to fend for his family, the peon now has to look after his security guard as well.

“I earn Rs 4,000. I paid Rs 600 as travelling costs for the guard for three months I've been writing to the SP for three months that either the guard should be looked after or removed. The guard has not been paid any allowance,” says Singh.

Komal Singh was threatened in police custody. He has a police guard, but is forced to pay for his travel, food and lodging. Today this college peon fears for his life and the security of his family.

It is clear that the state government and the Ujjain police made sure that Komal Singh turned hostile in court.

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