M A I N   N E W S

SHIVANI MURDER CASE
Medical proof on accused sought

New Delhi, August 21
A Delhi court today directed the Delhi police, investigating the Shivani Bhatnagar murder case, to present proof of medical examinations conducted on accused Pradeep Sharma while in 14-day police remand.

The court gave the direction on a contempt-of-court petition filed by Sharma against the special team crime branch, Delhi police, alleging that it did not follow the court’s guidelines regarding getting him medically examined regularly while in custody.

The court asked the police to attach the proof of the medical examinations which they claimed to have performed on Sharma, in their reply, at the next day of hearing fixed for August 24.

The accused had charged that he was interrogated and tortured contrary to the court’s direction in the absence of his counsel, who was not informed of the time, place and date of interrogation.

The Supreme Court, besides laying down the guidelines, had said the failure to comply would, apart from rendering the official liable for departmental action, render him liable to contempt of court.

Refuting the charges before the court of Metropolitan Magistrate J.P. Narain, the Delhi police said the charges were false and the accused had been medically examined seven times while in its custody.

Meanwhile, the Delhi police said it would question members of the family of Ravi Kant Sharma, prime suspect in the murder case, regarding his whereabouts and about the allegations levelled by them against certain politicians, including Union Minister Pramod Mahajan.

Additional Commissioner (Crime) Qamar Ahmad told reporters that the questioning of the family members might be conducted today or tomorrow.

The police would among other things, question them if they had any evidence to support their allegations.

Ms Madhu Sharma, wife of Ravi Kant Sharma, had alleged an “intimate relationship” between Mahajan and Bhatnagar and had demanded questioning of the minister. UNI, PTI