Crime Branch to probe Sarna death

Surender Bali (40) and Naresh Mishra (60) were deployed as security guards at an apartment complex in Kalkaji,where Sarna had attended a party on the night he died. They were produced before the court for extension of their judicial custody on Tuesday.

Sarna’s family had accused the Delhi Police of shielding his four friends,who had earlier been held for the illegal possession of drugs,and framing two security guards for murder. They had also demanded that the case be investigated by the Crime Branch.

During the hearing,the Crime Branch of Delhi Police informed the court that it had already started its work and would investigate the matter from the beginning.

DCP Crime Branch Bhism Simgh said,“The case was transferred to the Crime Branch on Monday on the request of Sarna’s family. We are looking into the issue and will determine a line of investigation.”

Anmol,who had completed his high school from New York,had come to Delhi to be with his parents before going to Canada for further studies. According to police,he reportedly died under mysterious circumstances on the night of September 13-14 after attending a party at his friends place in South Park Apartment,Kalkaji.

Police said the party had lasted till midnight,after which Sarna was allegedly beaten up by the guards for creating a ruckus in the complex. Around 2 am,Sarna was found bleeding in the apartment complex and later died at a hospital.

Sarna’s friends,Madhav Bhandari,Pranil Shah,Shivank Gambhir and Ritham Girhotra,are out on interim bail till October 22. The four have to surrender before the court on expiry of their 15 days’ interim bail.

Nine people had been arrested in the case. Sarna’s four friends have been booked under various provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and three others were arrested for allegedly helping the friends procure the drugs. All seven were granted bail.