Murder accused, mom booked for giving death threats to victim’s dad inside courtroom

Dehradun: A case has been registered against a murder accused and his mother for allegedly issuing death threats to the father of a slain D Pharma student inside a courtroom during an ongoing trial in Dehradun.

Police said Dr Rakesh Bansal, a resident of Jwalapur, Haridwar, lodged a complaint at city Kotwali police station alleging that Aditya Tomar of Kherki village in Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh, and his mother Deepa Pawar threatened to kill him and a witness while evidence was being recorded in court.

Dr Bansal told police that he and a witness had appeared before the court in connection with the murder case of his daughter, Vanshika Bansal, (then 20) who was allegedly shot dead by Tomar on March 3, 2022, outside her college premises on Sahastradhara Road in Dehradun. He claimed that during the hearing, the accused and his mother were present in the courtroom when Tomar warned him and another witness that “one more murder” would take place if they continued to pursue the case. Frightened by the threat, Bansal submitted an application before the judge seeking protection and action against the accused.

The complaint also mentions earlier instances of intimidation. On Jan 21, 2023, three unidentified persons allegedly threatened Bansal outside the court premises and warned him against pursuing the case. Bansal claimed that after Tomar secured bail on Sept 20 last year, and was released six days later, he was attacked near a slip road along the Haridwar highway by assailants armed with sharp weapons.

Taking cognisance of the latest allegations, police registered a case against Tomar and his mother under section 351(3) (criminal intimidation) of BNS and initiated an investigation into the matter.