Murder he wrote

 

 

“Bade cases mein aisa hota hai” (It happens so in big cases)… Standing in the dock with a face that showed no remorse, former IPS officer, Ravi Kant Sharma mumbled these words to his cousin as the judge pronounced him guilty for the murder of journalist Shivani Bhatnagar. As he was being taken out, Sharma’s cousin Mala sobbed inconsolably but Sharma remained unmoved.

Sharma was an Inspector-General with the Haryana Police when he had to surrender after the police found out that he had ordered the killing of Shivani in 1999. He hired men to murder her in her apartment in east Delhi. The court ruled that Sharma had a close relationship with Shivani and he ordered her killing after she threatened to expose their intimate relationship. (During police interrogation just after Shivani’s murder, the police found that even the password of Shivani’s e-mail account was rksharma).

Sharma (54) was largely accused on the basis of circumstantial evidence. In a 110-page judgement, the court held that there was strong evidence, including record of telephone calls, to prove that Sharma planned the murder while his co-convict Pradeep Sharma actually killed her. As this report is being filed, the court is due to decide on the punishment, which legal experts say, may range from a life term to death. Sharma has decided to go to Delhi High Court in appeal.

On the judgement day, Sharma’s house in Panchkula, near Chandigarh, was surrounded by heavy security. The house was empty since Sharma’s wife Madhu happened to be in Delhi. Curious journalists visited the house and had to make do with “we do not know anything” statement by the security guards.

The Bhatnagar family, meanwhile, said it was relieved after Sharma’s conviction. A close relative said the family had suffered, but justice had finally been done.

Life will never be the same for Sharma inside the jail. He will wear clothes meant for prisoners. He will be assigned work for which he will get wages.

A part of these will go to Shivani’s family. Sharma, it is said, is planning to write a book on his experiences in Tihar. Will he be able to, now that he will have the likes of Pappu Yadav for company?