DELHI: Charges under Defence of India Rule 38 (c) for preparing a document containing a prejudicial report were today [Nov 12] framed against Mr. Jugal Kishore Khanna by Mr. C. H. Disney, Additional District Magistrate, Delhi.

In his statement in reply to the court’s questions, Mr. Khanna admitted that the manuscript which formed the basis of his prosecution and which was seized by the police from a quarter near Aurangzeb Road was in his handwriting. But, he added, he did not consider it a prejudicial report. It was by way of an answer to the Government’s publication entitled “Congress Responsibility for the Disturbances” and was fair criticism and comment on it.

Earlier, prosecution evidence was recorded, Inspector Kanhya Lal said that, acting on information that Congress bulletins were being prepared there, on March 12 he raided a quarter behind Aurangzeb Road and among other things, seized a manuscript which was in the accused’s handwriting. Two days later the head clerk of Hindu College gave him 30 leaflets which were cyclostyled copies of the manuscript he had seized.

The statements of Khan Bahadur Haji Rashid Ahmad and Mr. Sri Ram, head clerk of Hindu College, were then recorded. Prosecution evidence was also recorded in the second case against Mr. Khanna under Rule 26.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2018