New Delhi: Prosecution today got a jolt in the Phoolan Devi murder case as an eye-witness told a court here that he could not identify the assailants as they had muffled up their faces at the time of the crime.

Kalicharan, who took a u-turn and was declared hostile witness by the prosecution, told Additional Sessions Judge V K Bansal, "the accused, at the time of firing at Madam (Phoolan Devi), had muffled up their faces and so I could not identify them."

On being cautioned that he may be prosecuted for the offence of perjury as he had earlier given diametrically opposite statement in the court, Kalicharan, the personal assistant of slain Samajwadi Party MP, said "I was read the statement already prepared by the police officials at Connaught Place police station here.

"They (Police officers) used to tell me about the contents which I had to say in the court. I used to come to Delhi for recording of my statements with them and was asked to stay in the police station itself."

The witness, on which the prosecution s case hinged substantially, however, admitted making statement in the court that he could identify accused Sher Singh Rana.

His statement that he did not remember as to whether police had recorded his version after the incident irked the Judge, who said "Kalicharan, your testimony to this effect was recorded in the court and you may face the consequence if you try to play smart with us."

"The witness is deliberately trying to wriggle out of his earlier statement given before this court," the Judge noted in his observation.

Source : PTI