Driver’s death: Anil Nanda,his business partners questioned

Janeshwar Sharma,45,succumbed to his injuries at Safdarjung Hospital on Tuesday,six days after he was set on fire at the residence of the vice-chairman and managing director of Escorts Ltd.

A case of attempted murder was registered on the statement given by Sharma. In his dying declaration,he told the police he had not seen his attackers but hinted at the involvement of Nanda’s business partner Vijay Sinha.

“We have questioned several people. Investigations are on and nothing conclusive has come out yet. We have also questioned Nanda and his associates,” said Virender Singh Chahal,Additional Commissioner of Police (Southeast).

A senior police officer said Nanda’s mobile phone details are being ascertained to monitor his movement on the day Sharma was set on fire.

Sharma was allegedly asked to follow Sinha by Nanda’s manager 12 days before the incident. He was,however,caught and questioned by Sinha outside Radisson Hotel.

After Sharma’s death on Tuesday,police converted the case into murder. The same day,a source said,one of Nanda’s employees met Sharma’s brother Yogesh at the hospital and handed him a letter,purportedly written by Sharma before his death.

“The man told me that my brother had given the letter to him to deliver it to us in case he died. My brother feared for his life,” Yogesh said.

Sources said none of the domestic helps at the Nanda household,who have been questioned by the police,said anything about the letter.

“It is too early to comment. It is possible that they (domestic helps) are scared. Even when we questioned them,they did not say anything incriminating against the Nandas. If Sharma’s family is claiming one of the employees gave them the letter,we will investigate further,” a senior police officer said.

In the letter,Sharma held Nanda and his business partners solely responsible “if anything untoward were to happen” to him or his family.

The letter has now been sent to handwriting experts to ascertain its authenticity.

Help attempted suicide in 2004
The police stumbled upon a six-year-old case in which one of Nanda’s domestic helps had attempted suicide by setting himself on fire. The incident was reported in 2004 when one Manohar,who was employed at the 12-C,New Friends Colony of Nanda as a driver,had tried to set himself on fire. A case of attempted suicide was registered against Manohar. He was treated at the Apollo Hospital. A source said police are now trying to trace his whereabouts.