Now Reading: CBI court rebukes summons via WhatsApp in Sippy Sidhu murder case
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CBI court rebukes summons via WhatsApp in Sippy Sidhu murder case
The Special CBI Court in Chandigarh has directed the CBI to ensure summons to prosecution witnesses are served strictly according to law, not through WhatsApp. Special judge Bhawna Jain issued the order…
The Special CBI Court in Chandigarh has directed the CBI to ensure summons to prosecution witnesses are served strictly according to law, not through WhatsApp. Special judge Bhawna Jain issued the order after noting that summons to witness Deepinder Kaur were returned unserved, having been sent via WhatsApp, which is not proper service. The court ordered the head of branch, CBI ACB Chandigarh, to instruct summons staff, particularly ASI Chamkaur Singh, to follow legal procedures.
The case involves the murder of national-level shooter and lawyer Sukhmanpreet Singh, known as Sippy Sidhu, who was shot dead at a park in Chandigarh on September 20, 2015. His family had accused his fiancee Kalyani of the murder. The court also deferred arguments on several applications, including one by the accused seeking complete data from the deceased's electronic devices, and one by a witness seeking restraint on publication of her name in the media.
The court has summoned witness Deepinder Kaur for August 24, the date already fixed for recording prosecution evidence. A compliance report on the service of summons has been sought by the next hearing.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The CBI court's rebuke over WhatsApp service reflects a recurring procedural issue in Indian criminal trials: witness non-appearance due to improper summons. In the Sippy Sidhu murder case, which is nearly a decade old, delays compound the trauma for both the victim's family and the accused. The court's insistence on legal modes ensures due process but also risks further adjournments if the summons staff fails again. The next hearing on August 24 will test whether the CBI has corrected its process, repeated non-compliance could lead to contempt proceedings.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
