Shivani Bhatnagar murder: HC acquits ex-IPS R K Sharma

“Accused R K Sharma,Sri Bhagwan Sharma and Satya Prakash get the benefit of doubt. We,however,uphold the conviction of Pradeep Sharma in the case,” said a Bench of Justices B D Ahmed and Manmohan Singh,deciding the appeals by the four against their conviction and sentence in the murder case.

Shivani Bhatnager was killed in her Navkunj Apartment flat at I P Extension in East Delhi on January 23,1999.

A lower court had on March 24,2008,convicted the four including R K Sharma,who had once served as officer on special duty in the Prime Minister’s office. The trial court had acquitted co-accused Dev Prakash Sharma and Ved alias Kalu in the case.

R K Sharma and the other three appealed against the trial court verdict,sentencing them to life for plotting and executing Bhatnagar’s killing.

The trial court held the Haryana cadre-officer colluded with the others to get Shivani killed as he feared she would ruin his social status by exposing their “intimate” relations.

Seeking Sharma’s acquittal in the Delhi High Court,his counsel had argued there were several missing links,including call records. He also said records were tampered with to implicate his client. The lawyer had alleged the police fabricated call records records to trap Sharma.

Standing Counsel (Criminal) Pawan Sharma had,however,countered the defence by saying the accused was in a high position and had influenced witnesses,as a result of which 43 prosecution witnesses turned hostile in the case.

According to the prosecution,Sharma had provided certain classified documents to Shivani that led to her murder as the journalist wanted to make them public.

Shivani was at her East Delhi apartment with her infant son at the time of the murder on January 23,1999. Her body bore 10 stab wounds and strangulation marks.

Sharma,hitman Pradeep,Sri Bhagwan and Satya Prakash were awarded life term by the trial court as it held Shivani’s murder was an “abominable and heinous crime.”

Chronology

Following is the chronology of events in the journalist Shivani Bhatnagar murder case in which the Delhi High Court on Wednesday acquitted former IPS officer Ravi Kant Sharma and two others;

January 23,1999: Bhatnagar,an Indian Express journalist,killed at her east Delhi residence.

July 23,2002: Police arrests Sri Bhagwan,son of a former Haryana police officer who once worked with R K Sharma.

August 2,2002: Delhi police raids R K Sharma’s residence at Panchkula in Haryana but is unable to apprehend him. Co-accused Pradeep Sharma arrested.

August 6,2002: Panchkula court rejects R K Sharma’s interim bail plea. Delhi police releases R K Sharma’s picture and declare a reward of Rs 50,000.

August 8,2002: R K Sharma’s wife Madhu alleges involvement of “an influential person”,seeks CBI probe.

August 12,2002: Delhi police gets forensic report on the handwriting and finger prints of co-accused Pradeep Sharma. R K Sharma seeks bail in a court.

August 13,2002: Court rejects Sharma’s bail plea.

August 15,2002: R K Sharma’s wife Madhu alleges complicity of BJP leader Pramod Mahajan in the murder. Mahajan refutes allegations,says he shared a professional relationship with Shivani.

August 16,2002: Police gives clean chit to Mahajan and confirms arrest of co-accused Satya Prakash in the case.

August 18,2002: Another accused Ved Prakash Sharma nabbed.

August 23,2002: R K Sharma suspended.

September 27,2002: R K Sharma surrenders at Ambala,sent to police custody.

October 8,2002: Police claims R K Sharma confessed his role in the murder. Sharma’s files contempt plea against police.

October 25,2002: Police files charge sheet,accusing R K Sharma for the murder. Sharma gave Shivani classified government documents.

January 4,2003: Case sent to sessions court for trial.

March 3,2003: Charges framed against Sharma and five others.

March 20,2003: Trial commences.

January 23,2005: Case sent to a fast-track court.

July 21,2006: Supreme Court stays Delhi High Court and trial court order asking police to furnish case diaries to R K Sharma.

October 9,2007: Prosecution says Shivani intended to expose R K Sharma for offences under the Official Secrets Act.

November 15,2007: Prosecution concludes arguments.

November 23,2007: Sharma says call records are “fabricated”.

December 4,2007: Sharma says he shared a friendly relations and no had a secret affair.

February 29,2007: Final arguments end.

March 5,2008: Court reserves verdict.

March 18,2008: Court convicts R K Sharma along with three others and acquits Ved Prakash Sharma,Ved alias Kalu.

March 24,2008: Court sentences R K Sharma and three others to life imprisonment.

March 26,2008: R K Sharma and three other convicts file appeal in the Delhi High Court.

March 29,2008: HC admits convicts’ appeals.

November 22,2010: HC starts hearing arguments.

December 21,2010: HC reserves verdict.

October 12,2011: HC acquits R K Sharma,Sri Bhagwan and Satya Prakash. It upholds conviction and life term of Pradeep Sharma.