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Supreme Court Acquits Daljit Singh Bittu

By AMRITA CHAUDHRY

The Indian Express, Ludhiana, Nov. 9, 2005

Photo: Daljit Singh Bittu

Bench cites lack of evidence against former Punjab militant.

Citing lack of evidence, the Supreme Court today acquitted former militant Daljit Singh Bittu in the Ashok Bedi murder case, along with co-accused Gursharan Singh Gama.

Bittu, who had been given a life-sentence by the designate court, was accused of the 1986 killing of Ashok Bedi, son of Crime Branch official S.S.P. Raj Kishen Bedi.

Accused in the Punjab National Bank (P.N.B.) robbery case, Bittu is also charged with making an attempt on the life of former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge, Justice R.L. Anand.

In a telephone interview with The Indian Express, Bittu's counsel, senior advocate Sushil Kumar said the case prepared by the Punjab Police fell, for they had recorded Bittu's confession under the T.A.D.A. Act of 1987, while the crime was committed in 1986. Once the two-judge bench of Justice B.N. Aggarwal and Justice A.K. Mishra set aside his confession, other witnesses could not prove Bittu and Gama were guilty of the crime. 'Bittu should be freed in a day or two but he still has two cases to defend,' said the advocate.