Jessica murder: Delhi Police under scanner
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Anasuya Roy
Sunday, February 26, 2006 (New Delhi):
The Delhi Police is increasingly under the scanner for loopholes in its investigations in the Jesica Lal case.
It is being believed that the weakness in the investigation is as much to blame as the witnesses turning hostile, that allowed the accused to walk free.
According to information available with NDTV, the judgment in the case says that the chain of evidence produced by the prosecution was broken.
"All the circumstantial evidence of the prosecution fell through in court," said Defence Counsel RK Nassem.
Major loopholes
It was proved in court that the murder weapon was never found, and to add to the problems, Ravinder Sudan, the man alleged to have fled with the gun, is still missing.
The 'one-gun' theory of the prosecution also proved to be hollow, as the forensic report showed that the two cartridges found at the spot were from different weapons.
The 25 rounds which Manu Sharma had were made in India, while the bullets recovered from the spot were made in America.
Unholy nexus
Police sources have also revealed that during the initial stages of investigations, the then DCP-South Sudhir Yadav had realised the discrepancies in the ballistic report.
He had reported the matter to his seniors, suspecting tampering or replacement of the bullets either at the local police station or the forensic lab.
KK Paul, who was the joint commissioner of police at the time, had then been asked to prepare an internal report on the case, which subsequently revealed major bungling in the investigations.
He had clearly stated in his report in 2001 that the collusion of the accused with the police officers was evident.
Demanding action
"Why was nothing done when it had become clear in the very beginning that tampering had taken place," demanded Justice VN Khare, former chief justice of India.
The loopholes in the investigation allowed the defence to successfully argue that the police had decided that Manu Sharma was guilty on the morning after the murder, even before analysing evidence or recording statements.
"The prosecution always knew that the witnesses will fall through, but they did not build the case properly," said Sabrina Lal, Jessica's sister.
It now remains to be seen how the Delhi Police will deal with the mounting evidence against the force.