R K Sharma, a senior Haryana cadre IPS officer was found to be prime accused in the case.

He was on the run since August 3 this year, ever since the Delhi police issued an arrested warrant against him in connection with the murder case.

Later on September 27, he surrendered himself in a court in Ambala.

R K Sharma confessed to the police that he was acquainted with Shivani since the days that he had been posted as OSD to the then Prime Minister I K Gujral and she had been covering the PMO as a correspondent with the Indian Express.

The investigation further revealed when the murder took place, Ravi Kant was posted as Chief Vigilance Officer of Air-India in Mumbai and Shivani was on maternity leave.

While Shivani had gone to London for three months earlier, Ravi Kant had made 90 ISD calls to her from Mumbai.

Shivani, incidentally, made 176 calls from London to Mumbai during this period.

Now in Tihar jail, Ravikant Sharma has accused Union minister Pramod Mahajan who for having had a love 'affair' with the slain Indian Express reporter. Sharma has termed Mahajan's affair with Shivani as "common knowledge: "Everyone knew, except the Delhi Police."

Sharma has also claimed that contrary to what the minister has said, he knew him "very well".

Madhu, the wife of R K Sharma, had earlier alleged that Mahajan had spoken to Shivani for 45 minutes on the day of the murder and demanded the details of his call to be made public.

Charge sheet has been filed against the prime accused, Ravi Kant Sharma. Apart from Sharma, co-accused Satya Prakash, Sri Bhagwan Sharma, Pradeep Sharma, Ved Prakash Sharma and Ved alias Kalu have also been charge-sheeted. The case is still pending before the court.

While all the accused have been charged under Section 302 (murder), 120 B (conspiracy), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 403 and 404 (dishonest misappropriation of property), Ved Prakash Sharma and Ved alias Kallu have been separately charged under section 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property).

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