Ranchi: The prosecution wants to produce six more witnesses in the Sapphire International School murder case, a move that is being seen by many as trial delay tactics.

The petition was filed on May 10 and it reached the court of additional judicial commissioner Shivpal Singh on Thursday. The judge will hear the matter on May 21.

Prosecution lawyer Ashok Kumar Rai told this newspaper that they wanted Sapphire vice-principal Madhumita Banerjee, science teacher Baibhav Mishra, discipline in-charge Malvika Sharma, computer teacher Arjeet, wing parent Kananika Bose and boarding in-charge R.N. Pradhan to testify in the interest of justice.

"They all are directly or indirectly associated with the February 5, 2016, murder of Class VII student Binay Mahto," the lawyer said.

Science teacher Mishra helped take Binay to hospital; vice-principal Banerjee resided on the same floor where Binay was fatally attacked allegedly by another teacher's son; computer teacher Arjeet was the custodian of CCTV camera footage; Bose was the hostel wing parent of Binay; and Sharma and Pradhan were responsible for safety of students on the residential school campus in Hardag.

On May 8, additional judicial commissioner Singh had directed closure of witness examination after 23 persons testified from the prosecution side. Asked if the court would allow more witnesses to be produced, Rai said under Section 311 of CrPC, the court wielded enormous powers in the interest of justice.

"Under Section 311, any court may at any stage of an inquiry, a trial or other proceedings, can summon any person as a witness; or examine any person in attendance, though not summoned as witness; or recall and re-examine any person already examined; if the testimony appears essential to deliver justice," Rai explained.

Defence lawyer Chandrasekhar Pandey, however, accused the prosecution of unnecessarily delaying the trial.

"After producing more than 15 witnesses from the school, the prosecution has decided to produce more from the school!" Pandey exclaimed, adding that the court had already imposed a cost of Rs 1,000 on the prosecution for "this delaying attitude".

Binay's father Manbahal Mahto said it would be better if the prosecution presented three key persons instead of six Sapphire employees.

"School chairman Rohit Sahu, vice-chairman Mohita Sahu and accountant Sandeep Verma are the three key persons. I had handed over my son to them. They must be able to explain how and why my son was killed and by whom. They are the ones who will know, but their names do not even figure in the case diary and police investigation," Mahto added.