IndiaTomorrow.net
New Delhi, Nov 2: Naveen Kaushik, Additional Advocate General (AAG) of Haryana who reportedly assisted the defense lawyer in 16-year-old Junaid Khan’s killing case has resigned.
“Kaushik has submitted his resignation and explanation on the issue. His resignation has been forwarded to the state government for acceptance,” said Haryana advocate general (AG) B R Mahajan as per English daily TOI.
Both Advocate General Baldev Raj Mahajan and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) SS Prasad confirmed that Kaushik has stepped down.
After severe criticism over the Kausik’s alleged assistance to lawyer Naresh Kumar who is said to be his friend to ask some certain questions to the witnesses in the trial court, he had been asked to serve resignation from Advocate General on Wednesday.
Last week, during the hearing of the case, it was observed by the Additional District and Sessions Judge Y S Rathore that Kaushik was helping the lawyer pleading the case of accused. Judge Rathore had stated that Kaushik was assisting the counsel of main accused Naresh during cross-examination of prosecution witnesses. Hon’ble Court also asked the Haryana government, the Advocate General’s Office and the Bar Council to take action against Kaushik.
People protest to demand removal of Asst. Advocate General Naveen Kaushik outside Haryana Bhawan, New Delhi on 1st Nov, 2017 (Photo – IndiaTomorrow.net)
On Wednesday, some social activists along with students held a protest outside Haryana Bhawan, New Delhi too, demanding Kaushik’s removal as well as transferring the case outside Haryana citing doubts over receiving a fair trial in a “BJP ruled state”.
Junaid Khan, 16, was beaten and then stabbed to death by a group of men in the Delhi-Mathura EMU local train near Faridabad railway station in Haryana on 22nd June. He was returning home to Ballabhgarh along with his brothers after Eid shopping in Delhi. His brothers Hashim Khan (19) and Shakir Khan (22) also received severe injuries in the assault. Attackers allegedly also passed communal comments by calling them “Beef eaters” and “anti-national”. Total five people had been arrested by the police in the case thus far.
