Framing of charges deferred in Malta boat tragedy case

New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) Framing of charges in a 12-year-
old case, relating to drowning of over 170 Indian illegal
immigrants near Malta in the Mediterranean sea, has been
deferred by a Delhi court after it was told that its earlier
order has been challenged by three of the accused.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Amit Bansal,
who was to frame criminal charges against 20 accused,
including two Delhi police officials, adjourned the matter to
January 16 next year.
The court was intimated by the defence counsel that its
earlier order, holding that there were sufficient evidence to
frame charges in the case, has been challenged before the
Delhi High Court by three of the accused.
The court, on July one, had ordered framing of charges
against 20 accused, including two policemen, allegedly
involved in trafficking of the victims.
"Sufficient evidence has been brought on records against
the accused to proceed with the trial," it had said.
The court, however, absolved the accused of charges
under the Emigration Act and the Passport Act for want of
sufficient "prima facie evidence".
The victims, hailing from India's northern state of
Punjab, died in the icy waters off the Malta coast on December
25, 1996, after they were transferred from a ship to a boat in
the Mediterranean sea. CBI had registered a case against 27
people in 1997. (More) PTI SJK
ANU


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