The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Haryana government to ensure the safety of incarcerated gangster Naresh Yadav, alias Sethi, and allowed him to appear virtually in trial court proceedings involving a 2012 murder case.
In an order issued on July 22, Justice Alok Jain disposed of a petition filed by Sethi, who sought security measures during his transit from Delhi’s Tihar Jail to attend court proceedings in Haryana, including Jhajjar. The court ruled that Sethi may be produced through video conferencing whenever possible, subject to any objections from the state.
The court clarified that Sethi must still be presented physically if the presiding judge deems his personal attendance necessary or if he is required for identification. In such instances, the High Court mandated that state authorities guarantee no harm comes to his life. The decision extends a relief previously granted on August 7, 2023, to a co-accused in the same case, in which prosecution evidence has already concluded.
Logistical Hurdles And Safety Concerns
Sethi’s legal team—comprising lawyers Nikhil Ghai, Bhavnish Garg, and Akshita Kansal—argued that although their client had previously attended proceedings virtually, the trial court consistently demanded his physical presence from Tihar Jail. They noted that inter-state transport created administrative and logistical difficulties that resulted in frequent trial adjournments.
The defense emphasized that Sethi faces a severe threat to his life due to an ongoing rivalry with organized crime syndicates in Delhi and Haryana. Allowing virtual court appearances, they submitted, would protect his safety, maintain his participation in the trial, and expedite the final resolution of the March 10, 2012 case.
State Response And Legal Conditions
Senior Deputy Advocate General Swati Batra, representing the Haryana government, did not oppose the request for video conferencing. However, she raised two points before the bench: Sethi had not named the specific individuals posing a threat to him, and he must be barred from later claiming any legal advantage or relief based on his absence from physical court sessions.
Sethi, a Haryana-based gangster, currently faces multiple criminal charges across Haryana and Delhi.
