BHUBANESWAR: The
Crime Branch
has asked SPs to take action against official witnesses who turn
hostile
while depositing in courts.
In a circular to SPs on Monday, the Crime Branch's additional director general (ADG)
Santosh Upadhyay, expressed concern over the hostile attitude of official witnesses such as home guards and constables and said it affected conviction. "We have proposed to the SPs to depute government servants from other departments as witness during any seizures. This practice is prevalent in state vigilance and CBI," Upadhyay said.
In the circular, Crime Branch said criminal courts should immediately be informed about the transfer of investigating officer (IO) from concerned police stations where he or she was probing cases. The Crime Branch also warned IOs from taking frequent
adjournment
pleas in courts to produce evidence. "Routine adjournment pleas lead to delay in trial and conviction," the probe agency said.
The Crime Branch has also asked SPs to stay in touch with public prosecutors for timely submission of facts and evidence in courts.