New Delhi, 10 January (H.S.): In a setback for the prosecution, no witness statements could be recorded on Saturday at Rouse Avenue Court in the case alleging irregularities in appointments to the Delhi Commission for Women. Special Judge Jitendra Singh scheduled the next hearing for February 2.Witness Dr. Dilraj Kaur, whose cross-examination was slated for Saturday, failed to appear despite service of summons. The prosecution informed the court that Dr. Kaur could not attend due to personal reasons.

Consequently, the court directed issuance of a fresh summons for her appearance on February 2.This marks the second absence for Dr. Dilraj Kaur; she also skipped the hearing on December 16, 2025, citing her father-in-law's surgery as the reason.

During the proceedings, accused Swati Maliwal joined via video conferencing. Earlier, on November 4, statements from complainant and former MLA Barkha Singh were recorded. The court had ordered framing of charges against Maliwal and three others back in December 2022.

Maliwal challenged this order in the Delhi High Court, but it was dismissed.Besides Maliwal, the other accused whose charges were framed include commission member Promila Gupta, Sarika Chaudhary, and Farheen Malik. The charges invoke Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code (criminal conspiracy) along with Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The case originated from a complaint filed by former MLA Barkha Singh with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on August 11, 2016. She alleged that rules were flouted to appoint Aam Aadmi Party affiliates to the Delhi Commission for Women, naming three such individuals.

The complaint also listed 85 AAP-linked persons purportedly appointed to the panel.Following a preliminary probe, the ACB registered an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar