The Hindu : New Delhi News : Investigating Officer's role under scanner

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Investigating Officer's role under scanner

Staff Reporter

Contradictory depositions by Surender Sharma in Jessica case

NEW DELHI: During the trial in the Jessica Lal murder case, the investigating officer, Surender Sharma, made depositions that ended up weakening the prosecution's standing. He is one among those who would be questioned by the special team formed to probe the alleged destruction of evidence, fabrication of records and criminal conspiracy to save the accused in the case.

Surprisingly, when the court asked him how he came to know that Manu Sharma was the main accused in the case, Inspector Sharma deposed that his senior police officers told him so on April 30, 1999 -- hours after Jessica was gunned down. Then only, the court observed that though the police had no evidence against Manu Sharma on April 30, 1999 morning, "he was framed" by senior police officers.

The second instance where Inspector Sharma "faltered" was on the issue of recovery of a black Tata Safari used by Manu Sharma. He deposed in the court that his senior officers informed him that the vehicle had been recovered from Noida in Uttar Pradesh. But then another police witness deposed that Inspector Sharma had told him that the vehicle had been recovered from Karnal in Haryana.

These contradictory depositions provided ample reasons for the court to question their credibility, which further weakened the case. The investigating officer was also asked why the statements of witnesses, which were recorded under Section 161 of the Criminal Procedure Code, did not mention the presence of Tata Safari inside the restaurant premises where Jessica was shot. As a result, depositions of the witnesses, including Home Guard Shrawan Kumar, became questionable. In view of these facts, the special team might ask Inspector Sharma to explain the lapses that strengthened the defence counsel's case.

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