M A I N   N E W S

Jessica murder: fresh case registered
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 6
The Delhi Police today registered a new case in the Jessica Lal murder case under various sections of the IPC following public outrage after a local court acquitted all nine accused, including Manu Sharma, son of Haryana minister Venod Sharma.

Talking to mediapersons, the Delhi Police Commissioner, Dr K.K. Paul, said justice would be given to the victim. He said the police would appeal in the Delhi High Court, in a day or two, against the judgement of lower courts in which the accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

“We have registered a fresh case against those who have fabricated with the evidence. The case has been registered at the Mehrauli police station and the SHO, Mehrauli, would be investigating officer,” said Dr Paul. He said the case would be probed by a special team under then Special Commissioner (Intelligence), Mr U.C. Katna, and other officers would be appointed soon so that there was no delay in the investigation.

The copy of the judgement was received by the police on March 3 and the police was asked to reply within three days why there were lapses in producing the evidences.

The Commissioner said an analysis of the judgement was undertaken and consultations held with legal experts, including Additional Solicitor-General of India, and the decision was taken to register a case against the “unknown accused” who tempered with the evidence and also to appeal in High Court against the judgement.

The FIR was registered under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 201 (destruction of evidence), 218 (fabrication of evidence) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC.

“There were many lapses in the case that came into knowledge during the media trial and would be taken care of during investigation of the new case registered. A lot of material has come up in the aftermath of the judgement, including in the media, which had created doubts,” Dr Paul said.

“There were certain aspects which would form the basis for going to the higher court. We would wait for the orders of the High Court.”

Model Jessica Lal was shot dead here seven years back allegedly by Manu Sharma. The police also failed to try Mr Y.S. Dadwal and Mr Amod Kanth, both senior police officials, and the then Joint Commissioner of Police as eyewitness in the case.