The Hindu : National : Pravin’s version recorded

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Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007
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Pravin’s version recorded

Staff Reporter

PHOTO: ANU PUSHKARNA

IN MEMORY: Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani with Rekha Pramod Mahajan at the naming ceremony of Pramod MahajanMarg at Saket in New Delhi on Tuesday.

MUMBAI: After he answered over 500 questions over two days as part of the statement of the accused, Pravin Mahajan’s version of the murder of his brother and BJP leader Pramod Mahajan was recorded in-camera in court here on Tuesday.

As the post-lunch session began, judge S.P. Davare asked him whether he had anything to say. Pravin, looking calm and prepared, started to speak about what happened on the morning of April 22, 2006, when Pramod Mahajan was shot. He said he went to his brother’s residence in the Purna building in central Mumbai at 7.30 a.m. Mahajan was waiting for him in the passage and they entered the living room together, he said.

Just as Pravin started mentioning a sensitive subject he broached with Mahajan, special public prosecutor Niteen Pradhan interrupted. He said the statement contained “scandalous and defamatory” information. He urged the court to record the statement in-camera and disallow the media from publishing or broadcasting it.

Pointing out that it was Mahajan’s birth anniversary, Mr. Pradhan said “an already traumatised family will suffer further” if this information was publicised. The proceedings were stalled for some time, while the prosecution and defence prepared their submissions.

The courtroom was packed with mediapersons. Pravin’s wife Sarangi, his two children and a relative were outside. She met him after the proceedings were over.

Defence counsel Harshad Ponda said he did not oppose in-camera recording, but objected to the prosecution remark that the statement was “scandalous and defamatory.” The court and the prosecution should not “shut off” the accused and his version of the incident. Pravin was only trying to bring on record “what transpired between him and Pramod Mahajan when no one else was present,” Mr. Ponda said.

Judge Davare then passed an order barring the media from attending the proceedings. He noted that no television channel or publication would broadcast or publish Pravin’s initial statement after 4.15 p.m.

The media would not be allowed to print or broadcast Pravin’s statement as an accused, as well as his testimony as the primary defence witness.

Mr. Ponda appealed to the court to call P. Harikrishnan from Pune as the only defence witness. The court has summoned him to appear on November 1.

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