Sharma’s `torture’ victim still lives in dread

That year, Sabharwal recalls, he was forced to sell his house in Anand Niketan after he incurred huge debts in his leather export business. Among the brokers who arrived to look at his house was a neighbour, T R Anand, who, it was discovered later, was Sharma’s accomplice.

The deal was struck at Rs 95.60 lakh and Anand paid Rs 1.50 lakh as token. Sabharwal claims he was paid another Rs 4 lakh after a year, and then all payments simply stopped.

Stranded without a home and a factory — Sabharwal had to sellit to make a down payment for his Palam Vihar house — the man began to look for someone to help him.

Meanwhile, because of his persistence, Anand gave Sabharwal two office cabins in Regal Building in Connaught Place, two cars and a rented house in Faridabad in lieu of the money. It was at this time that an acquaintance introduced Sabharwal to Sharma.

“I was totally taken in by his assurances that all will be well soon,” says Sabharwal, pacing restlessly in his drawing room. “Instead, I have lost everything — my house, factory and family — to Sharma. But I am not afraid. Even if it costs my life, I am going to see this through,” he says.

Sabharwal’s story unfolds like a sinister tale of deceit and terror. After befriending Sabharwal and assessing his worth, Sharma began pressurising him to hand over his properties to him. When threats of violence failed, Sabharwal claims Sharma produced pictures of his wife with him in compromising positions (The Delhi police, however, disclaim this saying theyhave not found any evidence of the relationship).

His family destroyed, Sabharwal continued to pursue Sharma, who had taken his car and other movables away. It was at one such meeting in Sharma’s house that Sabharwal was allegedly thrown into the basement and confined for 10 months.

Sabharwal’s account of his captivity, outlined in the first information report, says he was thrashed with hockey sticks, kept without food for days, and could not sleep for many nights because of the helpless shrieks of girls being raped and raucous parties.

He says he would have been eliminated, had it not been for a miraculous escape on New Year’s Eve: he simply walked out of the gate when the staff was busy with preparations.

Sabharwal says the Delhi police were unsympathetic and refused to even lodge his complaint whether it was about his property or his illegal confinement. “The Connaught Place SHO curtly told me my complaint was `general in nature’. Even Additional Commissioner of Crime B K Gupta threw the complaintcopy on my face, saying there was nothing. I can now believe Sharma was right when he said no one could touch him because of his connections.”

Despite his pleas to the Chief Minister and Prime Minister, it was only when Sharma’s arrest made news that Sabharwal felt there was hope for him. Today, he has 24-hour armed security from both the Delhi and Haryana Police (he has turned approver), but continues to live in captivity, and in fear that someday an attempt will be made on his life. “All this happened because I decided to sell my house one day,” he says, resignedly.