123 Kolkata: A local Pocso court recorded the statement of the hostel superintendent of Jadavpur University, where the first-year JU student was found dead in 2023. He is the ninth key witness in the case. His cross-examination by the defence is expected to be completed by next month. A total of 15 witnesses have been cited by the prosecution in this case.
The development came days after the prosecution produced an important witness, a barber by profession. The barber, according to sources, was forced to cut the hair of first-year hostel inmates as instructed by the accused. The prosecution may also record the testimony of the victim's father soon.
The victim lost his life on Aug 9, 2023. The charge sheet was earlier placed at the local Pocso court on Oct 19. The trials began in March 2024. The charges were framed under IPC section 305, which caters to the abetment of suicide of any child or insane person, along with IPC 34. If convicted, the accused can be sentenced to death or life imprisonment.
All the accused are still in judicial custody after individual bail attempts were rejected by the courts, including the Calcutta High Court.