CBI to monitor Delhi police probe into Sharma case

The Minister says the CBI’s services are required keeping in mind the alleged connections between Sharma and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and other members of the Mumbai mafia.

Though Romesh Sharma’s police remand ended today but he was arrested in another case in the courtroom itself.

There was high drama both inside and outside the Patiala House court. Sharma’s sloganeering supporters had to be restrained by a 40-strong group of policemen outside, even as a battery of defence lawyers argued his caseinside.

Sharma was re-arrested in connection with a case filed by Sanjay Sabharwal on October 22 at the Hauz Khas Police Station. He has been remanded to judicial custody until October 30.

The decibel level inside the courtroom increased in alarming proportions as lawyers tried to explain the case to Metropolitan Magistrate (MM) Jai Prakash Narain. The MM was confused by the fact that there were so many different cases against Sharma, and even took a short recess.

Sanjay Sabharwal was also present in court and correctly identified Sharma. Meanwhile, Sabharwal has said that he fears for his life. Though the Haryana Police have assigned three guards to him from the Commando wing of the force, Sabharwal feels that some of Sharma’s relatives will try to kill him. He adds that they are “hardened criminals”.

Sabharwal who lives with his widowed mother, Kranti at Palam Vihar has also met the Deputy Commissioner, Gurgaon seeking adequate security for his mother and himself.

With a semi-automatic carbinelying on his lap, Sabharwal recounted the horrors of “his forcible confinement” at Romesh Sharma’s Mayfair Garden residence. The police commandos do not let him go anywhere alone — even during his conversation with The Indian Express the guards stayed put.

“I am a soldier’s son. I am not afraid of death but my elimination will mean that the police loses. An important witness who has suffered physical torture at the hands of Romesh,” he adds.

Every day Sabharwal is called to Delhi to help the investigation and his regular trips, he says, makes him vulnerable to an attack.

He claims he had persistently followed up the case over the past two years. Sabharwal finally succeeded in getting a case registered against Sharma for usurping his property through fraudulent means, detaining him illegally at his residence and for torture.

In his complaint to the police, he also alleged that Sharma took possession of his Contessa car (DL-26 F-3522) and several “electronic items”.

Says Sabharwal: “Heused to thrash me with hockey sticks whenever I refused to sign the property documents. I was even locked up in a room for five days at his residence.”

His mother Kranti asks why all this had to happen to their family. “My father was a freedom fighter and my husband a highly distinguished Air Force officer. We have given our sweat and blood to the nation. And my son has followed their example,” she adds.