Tandoor case: Chronology of events

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday upheld the death penalty to former youth Congress leader Sushil Sharma in the Tandoor murder case, in which Sharma has been convicted for the murder of his wife Naina Sahani on July 2, 1995.

A trial court in Delhi had earlier sentenced Sharma to death in November 2003. The Delhi police had filed a 19-page chargesheet against Sharma, which eventually led to his conviction.

While confirming death penalty to Sharma, the Delhi High Court lauded the role of media in highlighting the offence. "In these situations, media cannot be blamed," a Division Bench comprising Justice R S Sodhi and Justice PK Bhasin said in its ruling.

The court made the observation in response to the contention of the defence, which said over-coverage of the case by the media prejudiced the trial court verdict.

Here is the chronology of events in the Tandoor murder case:

Chronology of events
	July 2/3 1995: Police recover burnt body of Naina Sahani, wife of Sharma, from Baghiya restaurant in Ashok Yatri Niwas (Sanghrila hotel). Restaurant manager Keshav Kumar was arrested from the spot.
	July 10,1995: Police arrest Sharma in Banglore.
	July 12,1995: A Delhi court sends him to 10 days police remand.
	July 27,1995: Delhi Police files chargesheet.
	August 31,1995: Sessions court takes up the case for trial.
	May 9,1996: Trial court frames charges under section 302(murder), 120-B(criminal conspiracy) and 201(destruction of evidence) against five persons.
	January 1999: Court records evidence in the case.
	September 27,1999: Day-to-day proceeding of the case begins.
	April 17, 2001: Delhi HC transfers the case from the court of V K Jain to G P Thareja.
	November, 2001: P K Dham appointed as amicus curae in the case in place of K K Sud who was appointed as the Additional Solicitor General.
	August 26, 2003: ASJ inspect Ashok Yatri Niwas which housed the Baghiya restaurant.
	September 23, 2003: The trial court reserves its final order.
	Novemeber 3, 2003: Court convicts Sharma.
	November 7, 2003: Sharma sentenced to death and Keshav gets seven years rigorous imprisonment.
	December, 2003: Sharma moves Delhi HC challenging trial court judgment.
	August, 2006: HC fixes the hearing on day to day basis.
	January 17, 2007: The court reserves the judgment.
	February 19, 2007: Delhi HC upholds death sentence to Sharma.