Kolkata police limit chargesheet witnesses to speed up trials
Times of India | 26 April 2025
Kolkata: In a written communication that is being treated as a guideline for investigating officers while they are filing chargesheets, Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma has asked his officers not to "unnecessarily" add witnesses to a chargesheet to make it sound "important." This causes undue delays in the judicial process, allowing criminals involved in serious offences like murder, robbery, and rape to exploit legal loopholes and secure bail, felt a section of Lalbazar top brass.
The police chief stated that witnesses should not be added just because they recorded their statement. Rather, the focus, stated the top cop, should be on identifying those witnesses whose statements will add to the evidence and make the prosecution easier. Verma also insisted that each trial needs to be monitored so that they can be completed in a time-bound manner.
The directive comes after multiple cases in Kolkata courts faced delays due to extensive witness lists. The communication specifies that investigating officers must consult with ACPs and DCPs before finalising witness lists for chargesheets after the end of the investigation. The move follows the release on bail of suspects in three important murder cases reported from Ekbalpore, Ballygunge, and Lake after trials lasted for several years.
The directive mandates that investigating officers must limit witnesses to those with direct knowledge of the crime. The police headquarters at Lalbazar reports that cases with extensive witness lists face postponements due to witness unavailability. "The department aims to complete trials within specified timeframes. The Police Commissioner ordered regular reviews of case progress by senior officers," said a DCP.
"Court records indicate that cases with numerous witnesses face repeated adjournments. The prosecution faces difficulties in producing witnesses on scheduled dates. Records show that witnesses turn hostile or pass away during extended trials," pointed out an officer from the KP's detective department legal unit.
Lalbazar has stated that it has now established extensive monitoring mechanisms for trial progress, for which officers must submit monthly reports on witness appearances. The department has also created a database to track case progression through the court system. The department plans to conduct training sessions for investigating officers on witness selection. The legal cell will assist officers in identifying crucial witnesses for cases, if required, the guideline further stated. MSID:: 120644193 413 |