The Hindu : Jessica case: Officer identifies vehicle

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 21, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Jessica case: Officer identifies vehicle

NEW DELHI, MARCH 20. The Investigating Officer in the Jessica Lall murder case has identified a black Tata Safari seized by police, saying it was the same vehicle he had seen outside the entry of Qutub Collonade in South Delhi, where the model was shot dead on the night intervening April 29 and 30, 1999, allegedly by former Minister Vinod Sharma's son Manu.

"On April 30, 1999, I along with my staff had reached Qutub Collonade at 2-45 a.m. I found one Tata Safari of black colour on the left side of the Collonade gate..." Inspector Surinder Sharma told Additional Sessions Judge Manju Goel.

According to prosecution, this vehicle had ferried the accused to the Colonnade on the fateful night. Later during the commotion, they fled leaving behind the vehicle, but came back to retrieve it.

Sharma said he then left for the Aslok hospital, where Lall had been taken, leaving home guard Sharwan at the spot to ensure that no vehicle leaves the spot.

On his return from hospital, he was told that two boys had forcibly taken away the Safari and that Sharwan had broken its right back side window door pane with his stick, Sharma said adding he alerted Control Room about the missing vehicle.

Later senior officers informed him that the Safari was registered in the name of Piccadley Agro Industries Limited, Chandigarh and was used by Manu, he said. -- PTI

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