No evidence, cops may give clean to Bhardwaj's wife
After two weeks of questioning, the Delhi Police, by their own admission, are yet to get their hands on even a shred of evidence against the wife of slain BSP leader-cum-businessman Deepak Bhardwaj. Jatin Anand reports.
After two weeks of questioning, the Delhi Police, by their own admission, are yet to get their hands on even a shred of evidence against the wife of slain BSP leader-cum-businessman Deepak Bhardwaj.
Ramesh Kumari, whom the police were treating as a suspect in Bhardwaj's contract killing for which their younger son Nitesh, 31, was arrested on April 9, is likely to be let off the hook, sources said on Thursday.
"We are yet to give her a clean chit formally but with Nitesh taking the blame for the hit, no criminal action can be taken against her," said an officer.
Initially, sources claimed, they were mulling whether Ramesh -- who according to Nitesh had told him tales upon tales of his father's misbehaviour and misconduct, further inflaming his thirst for vengeance -- could be treated as a co-conspirator in the case.
Nitesh was already desperate to bump off his father after his neglected mother expressed the apprehension that he was going to divorce her and marry a woman half his age in whose name he would write-off a substantial chunk of his 'white properties'.
"There was a bitter discord between Deepak and his wife, Ramesh Kumari. While she had filed a case of domestic dispute against him at the local police station, Deepak had field a case of forgery and cheating against her with the Economic Offences Wing (EOW)," said the officer.
Now, however, the police are likely to let her off the hook as soon as they get their hands on Swami Pratibhanand, the elusive godman who arranged Purushottam Rana and Sunil Mann to gun down Bhardwaj at his Rajokri farmhouse on March 26.
"Several teams are looking for him in two to three southern states," the officer said. "He has stopped contacting his aides."
Meanwhile, the contract killers, whose police custody ends on Friday along with that of Rakesh who owns the Skoda vehicle used in the execution of the crime, will be produced in court and sent to judicial custody.
Car owner in judicial custody
New Delhi (PTI): Rakesh, who had lent the car to Bhardwaj's murderers, was remanded to two weeks' judicial custody by a Delhi court on Thursday. His custody will extend till April 25. The decision was taken after the police had told the court that Rakesh was no longer required for custodial interrogation.