NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Even as the Delhi police continues to look for the Haryana IG (Prisons), Madhu addressed a press conference in Chandigarh but refused to take any questions citing the advice of her lawyers.
Flanked by her two daughters and surrounded by her lawyers and well-wishers, Madhu blamed the police and the media for 'tarnishing' the image of her husband and family.
Madhu insisted that her husband was not 'absconding' but 'keeping away' because of apprehension that he might be 'tortured and made to do things which others (arrested accused) have been made to do'.
"It is a bigger game. Somebody influential and important wants things to be done at great speed. Somebody is behind this unprecedented haste and desperate action," Madhu said adding, "Somebody wants to save himself."
Claiming that R K Sharma had 'always cooperated' in the inquiry whenever notices were issued to him, she said, "It is absolutely ridiculous that he should be declared an absconder within three days."
"Why is he absconding or running away? Because the entire administrative machinery is against him," she charged.
Alleging that the 'decorated police officer', the 'only one selected by the Interpol directly', was being made a scapegoat, she demanded the case be transferred to the CBI so that the truth is unravelled.
Claiming that her daughter was abducted before the murder of Shivani Bhatnagar on January 23, 1999 and the family continued to receive threatening calls even after the killing, Madhu said the then Delhi police commissioner was apprised of these developments, but to no avail.
"I fear the next murder is going to be of my family," she said.
Madhu attacked the media for projecting her husband as 'India's most wanted man'.
Occasionally, she became emotional recalling media reports that she attempted suicide because of strained relations with her husband.
"My family life is in a shambles," she said in a voice choked with emotion.
Reacting to the issuance of a non-bailable warrant and declaration of a reward for Sharma's arrest, she asked, "My husband is being projected as the most-wanted man just because of the alleged statement of a person in police custody. Hang my husband if he is found guilty, but please do not make him a scapegoat,
"I appeal to the prime minister to please intervene and restrain the Union home ministry and Delhi police from targeting my husband who is being made a scapegoat to save somebody," Madhu said.
She said she would fax the evidence in support of her case to President A P J Abdul Kalam and Chief Justice of India B N Kirpal.
RELATED REPORTS R K Sharma's bail plea rejected One more arrested in Shivani murder case Cops raid Sharma's house twice, draw a blank IPS officer plotted Shivani's murder: police Second suspect remanded to police custody Cops search for four more suspects One arrested in Shivani murder case
More reports on the Shivani Bhatnagar case
Tell us what you think of this report
