The Hindu : Shivani case: hunt on for Haryana IG

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 04, 2002

Front Page

Front Page

Shivani case: hunt on for Haryana IG

By Our Staff Reporter

New Delhi Aug. 3.

Following the arrest of two persons, Sri Bhagwan and Pradeep, in connection with the murder of the Indian Express principal correspondent, Shivani, the Crime Branch of Delhi police are in hot pursuit of the Inspector-General (Prisons), Haryana, R. K. Sharma, at whose instance, the duo alleged, they murdered her.

A team sent to Chandigarh raided Mr. Sharma's residence in Panchkula this morning but did not find him. The Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch, U. K. Katna, said the help of the Haryana police was being sought. Mr. Sharma is alleged to have fled to Himachal Pradesh to seek an anticipatory bail.

Mr. Katna said: "That R.K. Sharma is the brain behind Shivani's murder has been reiterated by the second accused, Pradeep, who was arrested from Munirka on Friday. Pradeep has confessed to have murdered Shivani along with his accomplice.'' Pradeep, a computer engineer, worked with another person, Satprakash, for whom police are on the lookout.

Pradeep was produced before the Karkardooma courts today, which remanded him to police custody for 14 days. Police claim that he was earlier involved in fraud cases in Delhi and Chandigarh and that Mr. Sharma - on whose direction he was allegedly hired to murder Shivani - helped him in one of the cases.

Police said that Sri Bhagwan had revealed the sequence of events leading to Shivani's murder on January 23, 1999. According to the plan, the journalist was to be eliminated in December 1998, a month after she had returned from a trip to England. However, the plan was aborted due to some reasons, following which Mr. Sharma asked Satprakash to hire criminals to kill Shivani. On the D-day, three persons entered the Nav Kunj apartments complex, where she lived. And while Satprakash remained outside, the other two, including Pradeep, entered Shivani's residence and murdered her. The name of the other accused has not yet been revealed.

Mr. Katna said the investigation was still at a preliminary stage and evidence was being collected. It is learnt that though police have several circumstantial evidence but there are still a few loose ends to tie up.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

Stories in this Section

Consensus needed on development issues: PM

Jethmalani panel to hold talks on Kashmir

Advani writes, rewrites BJP history

Not for Governor's rule: Omar

Shelling continues along LoC

Conspiracy to kill me: Mayawati

Shivani case: hunt on for Haryana IG

Fire in Army depot

Rly. booking on Internet