A police officer who was first to reach the Tandoor murder case crime scene 20 years ago is not comfortable with the Delhi High Court decision, but “respects” it. “It was destiny that (Sushil) Sharma was spotted at the scene of crime,” said former Delhi Police constable Abdul Nazir Kunju. He took voluntary retirement a few years ago. Kunju recalls how events unfolded on the night of July 2, 1995. He was posted at Connaught Place police station and on night duty. [related-post] “I was on patrol duty with home guard Chander Pal. We had reached the side lane of Ashok Yatri Niwas around 11.25 pm when we heard locals screaming that there was a fire in the hotel,” he recalled. “From over the wall, we saw smoke and flames inside Bagiya Barbeque restaurant. I rushed to make a call on my wireless,” Kunju said, adding he later entered the restaurant and found Keshav Kumar (co-accused) near the tandoor, putting pieces of wood inside. Keshav told Kunju he was a Congress worker and was burning some old posters. “I saw Sharma standing at the restaurant gate. He also claimed banners were being burnt. Later, the fire was doused,” he said. Sensing something fishy, Kunju decided to check the tandoor and found a body in the embers.
