M A I N   N E W S

Bailable warrants against Manu
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, March 22
The Delhi High Court today admitted the police appeal in the Jessica Lall murder case. The appeal had been filed under tremendous pressure from the public. The High Court issued bailable warrants to all nine accused, including prime accused Manu Sharma, with the direction that they should submit themselves to the court’s jurisdiction by April 18.

Warning the accused against contemplating any move to flee from justice and leaving the country, a Bench of Mr Justice Manmohan Sareen and Ms Justice Manju Goel, however, turned down the Delhi Police plea for issuing non-bailable warrants (NBW) of arrest against them at this stage.

Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam, appearing for the Delhi Police, though made a strong plea for issuing of NBW against the accused, acquitted by the trial court in its February 21 judgement, yet it had to settle down for the bailable warrants.

The police counsel sought arrest warrants apprehending that the accused might flee the country. He said there were reasons to believe so as there were reports that at least one of them might already have left for the USA and others might follow suit.

The police had challenged the acquittal of Manu Sharma, son of Haryana Minister Vinod Sharma; Vikas Yadav, son of former Rajya Sabha MP and UP liquor baron D.P Yadav and seven other friends and relatives of the former in the case by assailing the judgement of trial judge S.L Bhayana on 92 counts.

The police alleged that judge Bhayana, who has since been promoted to the High Court, had “ignored” strong circumstantial evidences in the case when key witnesses had turned hostile.

Other high profile accused in the case, issued bailable warrants are: Amardeep Singh Gill, Aloke Khanna, both executives in soft drink major Coca Cola, Shyam Sunder Sharma, a kin of former President Shankar Dayal Sharma, Harvinder Chopra, Vikas Gill, Raja Chopra, and former cricketer Yograj Singh.

Two other accused— Ravinder Krishan Sudan and Dhanraj— could not be put to trial as they were absconding and one of them had reportedly gone to the USA.

As per the prosecution case, Jessica Lall was shot dead by Manu Sharma at the Tamarind Court restaurant owned by socialite Bina Ramani, past midnight on April 29, 1999.

The police has registered a separate case after the acquittal order for the destruction of evidence after its senior officers blamed each other for botching up the probe into the sensitive case involving accused from moneyed class and with a strong political back up.

Among the major lapses attributed to the police were alleged “planting” of an empty cartridge in the Central Forensic Scientific Laboratory and non-recovery of Manu’s licensed revolver, used to commit the crime.

Court order to speed up probe: Paul
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 22
The Delhi Police Commissioner, Dr K.K. Paul, said today that the directions of the court in the Jessica murder case would speed up the investigations in the case.

“The High Court has admitted the appeal filed by the police and it would help speed up the investigation in the case,” he told mediapersons.

Assuring of strict action against anyone found guilty in the case, the Commissioner said: “Action would be taken against every person found guilty, even against police officers.”

Stressing that the police had already registered a case in connection with destruction, tampering and fabrication of evidence at the Mehrauli police station on March 6, he said: “In our prayer we had asked for the issuance of non-bailable warrants to arrest the accused.” This has been specifically mentioned in the appeal, he added.

The court order was also welcomed by Jessica’s sister Sabrina.

“It was an extremely positive step that the High Court had barred the accused to leave the country. It was very essential, otherwise the accused could fly out of the country. That fear has been removed now,” she said, adding “the fight for justice would not be long this time.”