M A I N   N E W S

Rs 50,000 reward on Sharma
Non-bailable warrant issued; search team sent to HP
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 7
A Delhi court today issued a non-bailable warrant against Haryana IG (Prisons) Ravi Kant Sharma, a prime suspect in the murder of journalist Shivani Bhatnagar, even as the Delhi police announced a reward of Rs 50,000 on him.

Metropolitan Magistrate J.P. Narain issued the direction in this regard on an application by the Delhi crime branch, which said Mr Sharma was evading arrest in the case.

The Delhi Police team investigating the Shivani murder case has reportedly approached the Union Ministry of Home Affairs against “non-cooperation by the Haryana Police”.

The Delhi Police investigating team has reportedly alleged that the Haryana Police has not been cooperating with them in locating Mr Sharma, a senior police officer of the Haryana cadre, posted as IG, Prisons.

It is learnt that the Delhi Police has asked permission from the ministry for intercepting telephone lines in Chandigarh and Panchkula.

Meanwhile, the Delhi police has despatched a team to Himachal Pradesh, where it suspects the senior police officer is hiding.

Addressing reporters, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) U.K. Katna said the police would give Rs 50,000 each to persons providing information leading to the arrest of Mr Sharma and Satya Prakash, who is another prime suspect in the case relating to the murder of Shivani on January 23, 1999.

“We have information that Sharma could possibly be in Himachal Pradesh,” Mr Katna said without specifying the place where he could be hiding. “Our boys have gone to Himachal to trace him,” he added.

Two persons — Pradeep and Sri Bhagwan — have been arrested and they have reportedly confessed to their involvement in the crime.

In their disclosure statement, both had told the police that the conspiracy to murder Shivani was hatched by Mr Sharma.

SHIMLA: The Himachal police on Wednesday refused to confirm or deny reports indicating that Mr Ravi Kant Sharma, IG Prisons, Haryana, who is the main accused in the Shivani murder case, was hiding in the state.

The police has been on the alert ever since it received reports about Mr Sharma’s presence in the state. While the top brass of the police was tight-lipped about his whereabouts sources said that he had some relatives in Solan and as such it was suspected that he could be hiding in the area.

The police was also making efforts to know the mode of his transport particularly the identity of the vehicle. PTI, UNI