The Hindu : New Delhi News : Man accused of murder attempt acquitted

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Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008
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New Delhi

Man accused of murder attempt acquitted

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: A court here has acquitted a man who had been accused of attempting to kill a Blueline bus driver by opening fire at him following a minor accident in 2002.

Additional Sessions Judge S.P. Garg acquitted Rakesh Sharma, who was charged under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code, and also asked the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Licensing) to review his conduct before re-issuing his weapon’s licence. The court further directed the DCP to take into consideration the detailed order in this case before arriving at a decision on renewal of his licence. The court noted that simply because an accident had taken place, there was no occasion for the accused to fire or take law into his hands.

However, the court also observed that there was no evidence on record to show that the accused had fired at the driver with the intention to kill him. Also, there was no history of personal enmity between the accused and the bus driver, who died during the course of trial, the court said.

Earlier in his defence the accused had told the court that he had opened fire in self-defence and also to ensure that the bus driver did not escape with his vehicle.

On November 22, 2002, Jitender Kumar was driving a Blueline bus on route 539 when the bus hit Sharma’s vehicle at Malviya Nagar in South Delhi. Immediately after he opened fire from his licensed weapon, Sharma was overpowered by people and handed over to the police. Jitender, who had not sustained any gunshot injury as the bullet had got lodged in the bus tyre, had then lodged a complaint with the Malviya Nagar police station accusing Sharma of trying to kill him.

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