Panchkula, August 6
The Additional District Judge, Panchkula, Mr H.S. Bhangoo, today issue notice to the State for August 10 on the anticipatory bail application filed by the Haryana I.G., Mr Ravi Kant Sharma, who is wanted by the Delhi Police in connection with the Shivani Bhatnagar murder.

However, Mr Bhangoo refused to stay the arrest of Mr Sharma till the date of the next hearing.

In an interesting development, the bail application was opposed by Mr Rakesh Bhatnagar, husband of Shivani. Mr Virendra Rathore, who represented Mr Bhatnagar, opposed the bail on the ground of jurisdiction. He said the Panchkula court had no jurisdiction to grant anticipatory bail to Mr Sharma because the murder took place in Delhi and the case was registered in the national Capital. He quoted a number of Supreme Court judgements in support of his contention.

Mr Rathore said Mr Sharma never cooperated with the Delhi Police in the investigation of the case. So much so Mr Sharma had even refused to undergo the polygraph (lie detector) test. He said the Delhi Police had sufficient evidence to prove the complicity of Mr Sharma in the murder of Shivani. Therefore, he said, the custodial interrogation of Mr Sharma, who was a very senior police officer, was required.

Supporting the application, Mr Gian Grewal, counsel for Mr Sharma, who was assisted by Mr Ravi Sharma and Mr Venod Sharma, said his client had been cooperating with the Delhi Police during the investigation. If his client wanted to run away from law, he could have easily done so during the past three years. He was a senior police officer of Haryana and would not evade the law.

Counsel for the I.G. said since Mr Sharma stayed in Panchkula, the local court had the jurisdiction.

After hearing counsel for both sides, Mr Bhangoo reserved his orders for about one hour.