The Hindu : Sharma's daughter to be questioned today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 22, 2002

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Sharma's daughter to be questioned today

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI AUG. 21. The Delhi police would question Pragati Sharma, elder daughter of the former IG of Prisons, Haryana, Ravi Kant Sharma, prime accused in the Shivani Bhatnagar murder case, in connection with his whereabouts, on Thursday. Police also plan to question her mother and sister.

Ms. Pragati said the crime branch personnel contacted her today saying a police team would reach her residence in South Delhi for questioning around 11 a.m. Addressing presspersons, the Additional Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch, Qamar Ahmed, confirmed that the crime branch would question Mr. Sharma's family members.

Ms. Pragati, who had faxed yet another application to the National Human Rights Commission seeking protection for herself and other members of her family, said she could not meet any NHRC official today as she was unwell. On Tuesday, she had alleged that her family members were being harassed unnecessarily by the Delhi police. It is learnt the Commission is planning to set-up a bench in this regard.

On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court heard arguments on Mr. Sharma's bail application following which the crime branch claimed that the entry register's page which supposedly had details and signature of the deponent, Mr. R.K. Sharma, was missing. Mr. Ahmed said the crime branch would inform the matter to the Registrar.

Mr. Ahmed said certain irregularities were found to have been committed by the Oath Commissioner who was required to take the details and signature of Mr. Sharma and confirm the same while filing the bail application. "The August 16 page has been found missing, suggesting that it had been tampered with,'' police said.

In an affidavit, swearing by the facts of his anticipatory bail application, Mr. Sharma had claimed before the court that he was present here on August 16 to file the application. However, Mr. Ahmed said the document submitted to the Notary, Ravi Chaturbedi, was signed by Mr. Sharma on August 14. The police claimed that the document must have been couriered to Mr. Sharma's lawyer.

The police found that the advocate, P.K. Pawar, had identified Mr. Sharma as a bona fide at the time of preparation of the affidavit by the Notary. Asked what action the police were planning against the defaulters, Mr. Ahmed said it entirely depended on the High Court.

In a related development, the crime branch is preparing for the next hearing on Mr. Sharma's bail application on August 26.

The records of calls made by Satya Prakash, Shivani and Sharma have been compiled for submission before the court if necessary. The details on other vital evidence and the accused's confessional statements have also been compiled.

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