— Photo: Vivek Bendre

MAKING A STATEMENT: Rekha Mahajan, a witness in the case in connection with the murder of her husband Pramod Mahajan, entering the Mumbai Sessions Court on Thursday.

MUMBAI: Rekha Mahajan broke down in the court on Thursday while giving eyewitness account in the trial of her husband Pramod Mahajan murder case, which started yesterday.

Ms. Mahajan collapsed after she told the court that she heard "pat pat" sound when she was in the bedroom on the morning of April 22, 2006, the day BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan was shot at in his apartment. Pramod Mahajan had succumbed to the bullet injuries on May 3, 2006.

Prior to that she informed that accused Pravin Mahajan had come to their house and was sitting with Pramod Mahajan when she went inside.

A doctor was called to examine her and the hearing was adjourned till Friday.

Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam started the examination by asking details about her education. He continued with questions about the Mahajan family and her marriage with Pramod Mahajan. Dressed in a striped multicoloured saree, Ms. Mahajan was in tears a few times during the recording of her statement including when her marriage was mentioned.

When he started asking questions pertaining to April 22, 2006, the day Pramod Mahajan was allegedly shot at by his brother and accused in the case, Pravin Mahajan, Ms. Mahajan started sobbing. There was an interruption when one of her relatives tried asking her if she wanted to stop. However, she carried on with her testimony.

She told Additional Sessions Judge S.P. Davare that on the morning of April 22, 2006, Pramod Mahajan woke her up at 7 a.m. and then she went to the kitchen to make tea for him. While he was reading newspapers in the living room, she heard the doorbell ring at around 7.45 a.m. When she came out of the kitchen she saw that Pravin Mahajan had come, she said. With pauses she told the court that she offered tea to Pravin, which he refused, and asked for water.

She also informed the court that their servant Mahesh Wankhede came after she had served water to Pravin. She said she had gone inside to get clothes for Pramod Mahajan, who used to go to exercise to his daughter's place, when she heard the "pat pat" sound. At this point she collapsed as she sobbed hard. She was given a chair and a doctor was called for. Mr. Nikam immediately requested the court to allow an adjournment and continue with the examination on Friday. Members from Mahajan as well as Munde family, who were present in the court, rushed to help her.

Through the proceedings, accused Pravin Mahajan, who had surrendered and confessed on April 22, but pleaded not guilty earlier this year, sat quietly watching the emotional testimony. Pravin faces charges under Sections 302 (murder) and 449 (trespassing) of the Indian Penal Code. While getting out of the courtroom, her daughter Poonam tried to say something to Pravin but was prevented by her relatives. Poonam, BJP leader Gopinath Munde's wife, and daughters, State BJP leader Vinod Tawde and her brother-in-law Prakash Mahajan escorted her out, shielding her from media persons. There was a scuffle between media persons and some persons who had accompanied the Mahajan family.

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