The
verdict in the Shivani Bhatnagar murder case has once again
proved that Indian judicial system is impartial and howsoever
powerful the accused may be, he will not be spared on being
proved guilty. Shivani, a journalist with a national level
English newspaper, was done to death on January 23, 1999 in
her flat located at Parpatganj, New Delhi. In this case, the
court has held Haryana cadre ex-IPS officer RK Sharma and
three others guilty of conspiring and eliminating the senior
journalist. The court admitted that Sharma and Shivani had
illegal relations. However, after Shivani became pregnant,
Sharma started avoiding her. It is said Shivani had threatened
to expose the misdeeds of the ex-IPS officer. Sharma became
extremely fearful and got Shivani killed by Pradeep. The court
pronounced Sharma, Pradeep and Bhagwan guilty of murder and
conspiracy to murder. The guilty may get life imprisonment
and maximum punishment of death sentence. The sentences would
be read out on Thursday morning. After the murder of Shivani,
the ex-IG of Haryana tried to colour the case one way or the
other. Sharma even went underground. Even after arrest of
other accused he had remained out of the reach of the police.
Coming under pressure, the police finally decided to declare
him an `absconder' so that his property could be confiscated.
In the meantime, Sharma surrendered before the Ambala court
on August 27, 2000. It is said a lot of effort was made to
save him but all failed in the end. The ex-IG's involvment
in the case has dented the image of the police. Truly the
reach of the law is long.
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