Perjury complaint in Jessica Lal case: NBW against Shayan Munshi cancelled

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Monday cancelled the non-bailable warrants (NBW) issued against Bollywood actor Shayan Munshi, who is facing prosecution for allegedly turning hostile in Jessica Lall murder case, after he appeared before it.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Pooran Chand cancelled the NBW on his appearance in the court and directed him to be careful in future.

The court had earlier issued NBW against Munshi, who was out on bail, after he failed to appear before it during the proceedings.

The court has fixed 28 April for hearing arguments on framing of charges in the case.

Meanwhile, the court issued a notice to another accused Prem Manocha, who was then working as a ballistic expert, to clarify the position of stay which was earlier granted by the Supreme Court qua proceedings against him.

Manocha’s counsel told the court that stay by the apex court is still in operation but the CMM issued notice to the accused for April 28 to clarify it.

The court, which had in December 23, 2013 granted bail to Munshi as the offence alleged against him was bailable, had also imposed several conditions on him including that he would regularly attend the hearings and shall not influence witnesses or tamper with the records in any manner and would inform it before leaving India.

Munshi, who was led as a primary witness of prosecution in the Jessica murder case, and Manocha are accused of lying on oath during trial before the sessions court and introducing the “two-gun theory”, which was the primary defence taken by the convicts.

The Delhi High Court registrar had filed two separate complaints against them in September, 2013 after the high court passed an order on March 22, 2013 directing their prosecution for perjury.

PTI