Title - Mishra case final arguments in Delhi court on Sept. 10

Final arguments in the L.N. Mishra assassination case were put off to September 10 by a court here after counsel for the main accused, Santoshanand, on Monday sought 15 more days to study the case.Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Goel on August 17 directed that final arguments begin on August 27, after counsel said he needed time to inspect the charge sheet and witness statements. The same day the Supreme Court had dismissed a petition seeking quashing of charges in the 37-year-old case on grounds of inordinate delay of the trial.(The trial of the January 2, 1975 killing of the then Railway Minister at Samastipur in Bihar was transferred to Delhi in 1979 on an application moved by the then Attorney-General. The charge sheet was filed against several people. However, even after 33 years the case is yet to conclude in the sessions court.)Mr. Goel put forward the suggestion that counsel Ashwani Kumar Bali, who was appointed amicus curiae earlier this month, could take notes when prosecutor and counsel for three other accused put forward their arguments, before beginning his defence. But newly appointed counsel pleaded that he should not be rushed into the case.