2 min readNew DelhiOct 14, 2011 01:24 AM IST
First published on: Oct 14, 2011 at 01:24 AM IST
“How can a man kill somebody after 18 days of his engagement? With such a crime on his head,why will he start a new life by getting married?” asked Inder Prabha,mother of Pradeep Sharma,who is the only person convicted for murdering The Indian Express journalist Shivani Bhatnagar in January 1999.
Prabha said she never expected the Delhi High Court judgement to reverse the luck of her son. The verdict has shocked her,she said.
“I am shocked with the judgement. I had reconciled with the fact that my son will not come back home despite his innocence. But,by virtue of the court order,the person,who could have a reason to kill,and others,who could have been a part of the conspiracy,walked out of jail while my son was left to serve his remaining term. I ask why,” Prabha told Newsline a day after the Delhi High court verdict.
A division bench headed by Justice B D Ahmed on Wednesday acquitted former Haryana Inspector General of Police Sharma and two of the accused persons, Satya Prakash and
Sri Bhagwan,giving them the benefit of doubt.
The court noted that the prosecution had failed to establish any motive on Sharma and also a connection between the accused to prove they acted in furtherance of the conspiracy to kill Shivani in her East Delhi residence on January 23,1999.
Prabha said it would have much easier on her to come to terms with the verdict,had everyone been convicted.
Pradeep’s wife,Neelam,met him in Tihar on Thursday.
“He was disappointed and inconsolable. He kept repeating that justice was not done to him. Our children were sad and wondered if their father will ever come back home. We have tried our best to not tell our children about the case but they go to school,and people say things,” said Neelam.
Asked about their next course of action,Pradeep’s mother said,“My hope was dashed and our lawyer has been unavailable to guide us on the future course of action. I don’t know what can save my son now,” she said.
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