Rahul Gandhi can't be compelled to be a witness against himself: Pune court
The judge further noted, 'If the accused is compelled to produce such evidence prematurely, it would amount to a violation of his fundamental right... The accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.'Rahul Gandhi's lawyer, Milind Pawar, argued that the defence cannot be made to reveal its strategy or evidence before the trial starts. 'The complainant is required to prove his case beyond a reasonable doubt,' he said. 'The burden of proof lies entirely on the complainant.'Pawar added that allowing the application would harm Gandhi's right to a fair trial. He said it would shift the responsibility of disproving the allegation onto Gandhi, which is not allowed under law. 'Such a direction is neither permitted under criminal procedure nor compatible with constitutional guarantees,' he submitted.The court agreed, underlining that it's the complainant who must present a strong case first. Only after that, the defence may choose to submit documents, but not before.- EndsMust Watch
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