Punjab Revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia today welcomed the framing of charges against defenceless AAP Punjab incharge Sanjay Singh by a local court in a criminal defamation case and asserted the AAP leader was now only one step short of conviction.Reacting to the court decision today in which a notice of accusation has been served upon Sanjay Singh under sections 500,502 and 120-b IPC, the Revenue minister said it was shameful that the accused had run away from a day to day hearing in the case. "Normally it is perceived that a speedy trial is needed to safeguard the fundamental rights of the accused. In this case the complainant is asking for speedy trial and the accused is running away from the same". The SAD leader said Sanjay Singh's decision to run away from a speedy trial in the case meant both he and his dhongi leader Arvind Kejriwal were trying to befool people by challenging me to put them behind bars within six months and simultaneously asking the court not to hold day to day hearing in the case. "If he had supported my application for day to day hearing I would have fulfilled his wish of celebrating the forthcoming New Year in jail”, he added. Mr Majithia said he had maintained in an application submitted to the court that day to day trial in the criminal defamation case filed against Sanjay Singh would be in the interest of justice. “I believed the accused would welcome this application as it would ensure speedy disposal of the case and he would not have any objection to it.
However instead of agreeing to the same Sanjay Singh has chosen the path of the coward by opposing my application by stating that there is no need for speedy trial of the case. This shows he knows the consequences of his actions and wants to delay pronouncement of judgement in the case.The SAD leader said it was clear that the PAAP party was aware that its days were numbered. “AAP de Paap da ghada bhar gaya hai. The party knows it has been thoroughly exposed with more than 15 legislators involved in heinous crimes. These include various cases of sexual misconduct. Even Sanjay Singh has been accused of demanding sexual favours by by AAP mla Col Devender Sehrawat recently. This conduct is against norms of all civilised society. Punjabis will not allow outsiders from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to behave in such a fashion and will take them to task and ensure they are punished for indulging in such blatant acts of moral turpitude. Mr Majithia said he on his part also owed it to Punjabis not to allow Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh to run away from speedy trials in the criminal defamation cases filed against them. "I have taken every recourse available to me to ensure a speedy trial in both cases. However it seems the AAP leaders understand this is not in their interests and want to delay the proceedings as they do not have any defence to escape conviction in the cases". EOM