48 witnesses in Varnika case

Chandigarh: After 42 days of their arrest in the Varnika Kundu stalking case, Haryana BJP president Subhash Barala’s son, Vikas, and his friend, Ashish Kumar, had a police charge sheet filed against them before a civil judge on Thursday.

The complainant is daughter of an IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer. On Friday, when their judicial custody gets over, both accused will receive a copy each of the charge sheet filed under Sections 354D (stalking), 365 (kidnapping with the intent of wrongful confinement), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 511 (punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with life imprisonment), and 34 (common intent in crime) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), besides Section 185 (drink driving) of the Motor Vehicle Act.

The 300-page charge sheet includes the statements of 48 witnesses, including Varnika, her father, and the policemen who arrested the law student and a law graduate at the Housing Board traffic lights that night. Police have also submitted the CCTV (closed-circuit television) image from the Sector 9 point where the accused bought liquor before chasing Varnika’s car.

The civil judge and the additional district and sessions judge have dismissed the bail petition of Vikas Barala. At the next hearing, charges can be framed against them.

Box:

Charges filed

IPC Sections

354D | Stalking

365 | Kidnapping with intent of wrongful confinement

341 | Punishment for wrongful restraint

511 | Punishment for trying to commit offences punishable with life imprisonment

34 | Common intent in crime

Motor Vehicle Act

Section 185 | Driving under influence of liquor

Box:

Vital elements

Main witnesses | Varnika Kundu, her father, two cops who arrested Vikas and his friend, the person on the phone with Varnika during the incident

Main evidence | CCTV footage of Varnika’s car being chased

Box:

Case history

August 5 | Vikas Barala, Kurukshetra University law student and son of Haryana BJP president Subhash Barala, and a friend, law graduate Ashish Kumar, allegedly follow bureaucrat’s daughter Varnika Kundu’s car. She calls cops, who catch the boys drunk

August 10 | Accused arrested and produced in court, send to police custody

August 12 | Accused moved to judicial custody

August 25 | Judicial custody extended

August 29 | Bail denied

September 7 | Notice to police on bail plea

September 12 | Bail petition of Vikas Barala dismissed

September 21 | Charge sheet filed against accused