NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Pragati Sharma, daughter of Ravi Kant Sharma, the Indian Police Service Officer who is the prime suspect in the Shivani Bhatnagar murder case, has demanded that the investigation be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
In a telephone interview with rediff from her home in Chandigarh, she accused the Delhi police of conducting the investigation in a biased manner.
"Shivani Bhatnagar was a political journalist and she was covering the BJP. She interacted with Union Minister Pramod Mahajan on a friendly, rather then professional, basis," she alleged. "How come when she is murdered, the political angle is not even looked into, leave alone the question of investigating it?"
She said her family stood behind her mother Madhu Sharma's statement on Thursday night where she alleged that Mahajan had a hand in Bhatnagar's murder.
"My mother is under heavy sedation and cannot answer your questions. However, I will answer any questions you would like to put to me. Yes, I stand by the statement made by my mother," she said.
Asked how her father got involved with Bhatnagar, Pragati took offence to the word 'involved.' "The only evidence they have so far is the telephone calls [Bhatnagar allegedly made to R K Sharma]. In the last one week I have got hundreds of calls from various journalists in Chandigarh. Does that mean I am having an affair with all of them?" she charged.
"In any case when my father was the vigilance director of Air-India for two years he was a busy man. You try calling the director, Air-India. Out of ten times you would be lucky if you get him on the phone even once. Every phone call does not mean Shivani has spoken to R K Sharma," she claimed.
Asked if her father had informed the Delhi police about the Mahajan angle, as her mother had alleged on Thursday night, she said, "My father was called for questioning three months after the murder and he then told the Delhi police about Pramod Mahajan's involvement in the case, but they did not call Mahajan for questioning."
Mahajan told rediff, "If there is a specific allegation then I am ready to answer it. Now they claim I called up Shivani on the day of the murder and spoke to her for 45 minutes. Where is the bill that shows I spoke to her for 45 minutes?" the minister asked.
He said he could not comprehend what "game" Madhu Sharma was playing by trying to pin him against Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani.
"I have great respect for Advaniji. I don't understand why she is trying to play me against Advaniji. The only reason why she chose her timing to make the allegation against me seems to be the fact that they are moving the Delhi high court for anticipatory bail. By mentioning my name they hope to divert attention," he added.
ALSO READ:
Mahajan denies allegation; ready to face probe The Shivani Bhatnagar Murder: The Complete Coverage
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
