Place 2010 MBA student’s rape-murder victim’s call details on record: Court

The Fast Track Special Court here has allowed an application of the prosecution to place on record the call details of a girl MBA student, who was allegedly raped and killed 15 years ago in the forest area of Sector 38 (West).

In the application, the prosecution sought computer record of former DSP Harditt, who was posted as additional SHO of the Sector 39 police station in 2019.

The Special Public Prosecutor stated that the case was untraced and reopened after 14 years when the accused, Monu Kumar, a taxi driver, was arrested last year following his DNA test. Sub-Inspector Mohan Kashyap of the Maloya police station conducted the further investigation.

At the time of filing of chargesheet, he placed on record the call details of the victim’s mobile number, containing two sheets only. He tried to contact officials of the mobile service provider, but they expressed their inability in providing the record.

During the recording of DSP Harditt’s statement, it came to light that the call details, tower location and allotment of mobile numbers with IMEI numbers was available in his computer. SI Mohan Kashyap was unaware of it. The record was necessary for a fair decision in the case. In view of this, the prosecution prayed for placing on record the call details.

Opposing the application, the defence counsel stated that the prosecution had ample opportunity to place all relevant evidence on record at the time of filing of the chargesheet. After so many years, the prosecution was introducing new evidence.

The court further observed that the call records of the deceased, which could not be provided by the service provider but were saved in the computer of the previous investigating officer, were very much necessary for the just decision in the case.

The court stated that as far as its authenticity was concerned, the defence counsel would get the opportunity to cross-examine former Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Harditt.

The blood stained body of the 21-year-old victim was found on July 30, 2010. The accused had allegedly taken away her phone after committing the crime.

Chandigarh