Click to play videoNew Delhi: After facing public ridicule and shame over the way it mishandled the Jessica Lall case investigations, the Delhi Police seems to be heading for trouble in yet another high-profile case.
The prime accused in the Shivani Bhatnagar murder, former Inspector General of Police Ravi Kant Sharma, had asked for the case to be put on the fast track.
Eight days a month, he is escorted from the lock-up to the court room. His wife, Madhu, keeps the court date with him.
But now, his defense lawyers seem to be slowing the pace. Why? Because according to them, they have found a lapse in the investigation.
Defense Counsel, DB Goswami, says, "They have deliberately not brought evidence on record."
The allegation is that even though Shivani's husband, Rakesh Bhatnagar, was questioned several times during the course of the investigation, only seven of his statements were put in the chargesheet.
As a result, he could be cross-examined only on these statements. The defense now wants about 15 other statements made by Bhatnagar. And a directive from the trial judge says that the Delhi Police will have to give these to them.
By calling for Rakesh Bhatnagar's statements, the defense is trying to create an impression that the Delhi Police has willfully withheld crucial evidence.
If this is proved, then the Shivani Bhatnagar murder may become yet another high-profile case, after the Jessica Lall trial, where the professionalism and integrity of the Delhi Police is yet again put under the microscope.
The prosecution, however, dismisses these allegations claiming that the defense gameplan is to delay the case, especially now, as they do not want any of the fallout of the Jessica Lall trial to rub off on their case.
Special Public Prosecutor in the Jessica Lall case, SK Saxena, says, "They are just trying to delay the case proceedings."
The Delhi Police plans to appeal against the trial court directive asking them to share these details from the case diary with the accused. But even this will take its toll on the pace of the trial.
Rakesh Bhatnagar, the victim's husband, had been grilled for over five months by Ravi Kant Sharm'a lawyers. Now, it seems that he may have to take the stand again.
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