A Delhi court on Friday ordered framing of charges against former Bahujan Samaj Party MP Dhananjay Singh and his estranged wife Jagriti Singh for allegedly murdering their domestic help Rakhi Bhadra at their official residence here in 2013.
At the time of the incident, he was an MP from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh.
Stating that there was sufficient evidence on record to send them on trial, Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal ordered framing of charges of destruction of evidence against the former MP and of murder, criminal intimidation and voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means against his wife.
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However, the court discharged Mr. Singh of the murder, attempt to murder and other charges under the Indian Penal Code. It discharged Ms. Singh of attempt to murder, unnatural offences, buying and disposing of any person as slave under the IPC.
The court will on Saturday formally frame charges against both the accused. Mr. Singh is out on bail, while Ms. Singh is in judicial custody.
Delhi Police had charge-sheeted the couple in February last. The police have alleged that Ms. Singh used to beat her three domestic helps mercilessly. She has also been accused of not allowing them to visit their hometown, leave the 175 South Avenue flat or even talk to their families due to constant torture and surveillance.
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Rakhi’s body was recovered from the residence with injury marks on the legs, chest and arms on November 4, 2013.