Date:04/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/04/stories/2007040400810900.htm

National

Cross examination of Rekha Mahajan starts

Staff Reporter

Pramod Mahajan's wife was calm and confident this time in the court

Rekha Mahajan

MUMBAI: Defence counsel Harshad Ponda started cross-examination of Rekha Mahajan, wife of the slain BJP leader, Pramod Mahajan, in the murder trial here on Tuesday. The trial will continue on Wednesday.

She answered questions related to the position of different pieces of furniture in the living room and the location of the flat where the couple resided. She answered questions pertaining to Pramod Mahajan's education and the relationship between him and Pravin Mahajan.

Ms. Mahajan, who collapsed in the court while narrating the sequence of events on April 22 2006, was calm and confident. She identified and explained different points on the maps of the house. Asked how she served water to her guests, Ms. Mahajan said she used to wear hand gloves while doing kitchen work. Prior to that it was their domestic help who served water or tea to guests.

The courtroom was packed with Mahajan family members, mediapersons, advocates and supporters accompanying the Mahajan family. The prosecution case is that Pravin Mahajan, youngest of the Mahajan brothers, shot three bullets from point blank range at Pramod Mahajan on April 22, 2006. Mr. Mahajan died on May 3. Pravin had surrendered at Worli and confessed to the crime.