Cops move SC against acquittal of RK Sharma

Three months after the Delhi High Court acquitted Haryana cadre former IPS officer RK Sharma and two others in journalist Shivani Bhatnagar murder case, the Delhi Police on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court against the acquittal order, terming it "contrary to law, evidence on record and probabilities of the case".

Three months after the Delhi High Court acquitted Haryana cadre former IPS officer RK Sharma and two others in journalist Shivani Bhatnagar murder case, the Delhi Police on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court against the acquittal order, terming it "contrary to law, evidence on record and probabilities of the case".

HT Image

The police have challenged the October 12, 2011, verdict that gave benefit of doubt to Sharma and two other accused Sri Bhawgan and Satya Prakash. The high court had upheld the conviction of only one accused i.e. Pradeep Sharma.

Bhatnagar was found murdered at her east Delhi flat on January 23, 1999.

The motive behind the killing of the Indian Express journalist was not clear and the HC verdict is silent as to whether Pradeep acted alone or at the behest of Rakesh Sharma and others or at the instance of someone else.

"These are questions which we cannot answer on the basis of the material before us. The quality of evidence before us is not of a high calibre," the HC had said, adding that the call records, the key document, is riddled with so many problems that it cannot be relied upon.

In the appeal, the Delhi Police have said, "There can hardly be an evidence as what was agreed amongst the conspirators. The agreement amongst the conspirators can be inferred by necessary implications…for the purpose, it is not necessary that all the offenders be known to each other or all of them may not be knowing the secrets of conspiracy…"