Spl Public Prosecutor in Ara Hooch tragedy case threatened in court

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara : Pronouncement of quantum of punishment to the 15 convicts in Ara Hooch tragedy case of December 2012 was on July 26, 2018, deferred to July 28. As the court announced deferment of date, one of the accused in the case Rakesh Kumar Singh allegedly threatened the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Satyendra Kumar Singh with dire consequences in the open court. The SPP submitted a written petition in the court in this regard.

The Additional District and Session Judge I Ramesh Chandra Dwivedi had convicted all the 15 named accused in the spurious liquor case on July 24, 2018, and had fixed July 26, 2018, for pronouncement of quantum of punishment. On July 26, 2018, the court once again heard plea of both the parties and fixed July 28 for the pronouncement of quantum of punishment in the case.

SPP Satyendra Kumar Singh said that as the hearing completed, one of the accused Rakesh Kumar Singh came to him and threatened him with dire consequences in the open court as he dared plead  against them. The SPP said that he immediately filed a written petition in the court and requested the court to put the petition in the record for further action. He said that some inmates of Ara jail informed him to remain alert as the accused had allegedly hatched plan to eliminate him.

At least 21 persons including 5 women of Mahadalit communities of Anaith locality under Nawada police station, Ara, had died after consuming spurious countrymade liquor on December 7, 2012, and the police had made 15 persons named accused in the case.