New Delhi, July 5 (IANS) The Delhi government Wednesday told the high court that the police were not only probing alleged lapses in investigating the murder of model Jessica Lal but also their connivance in facilitating the acquittal of the accused.
Government counsel Mukta Gupta told a bench of judges Vijender Jain and Kailash Gambhir that the special investigation team (SIT) set up to investigate lapses in the probe had so far registered three cases, including one against socialite Bina Ramani, a key witness, for allegedly filing a false affidavit regarding her nationality.
Gupta added that the SIT had registered another FIR against Chandigarh-based doctor J.S. Bedi for allegedly issuing a fake medical certificate to Vikas Gill, one of the accused, who used it to take exemption from personal appearance in the trial of the case.
The counsel said this in response to suo motu queries made to the Delhi Police after acquittal of the accused in February.
The bench later transferred the case to another bench hearing the appeal filed by the city police challenging the acquittal.
Then additional sessions judge S.L. Bhayana Feb 21 acquitted all eight accused, including prime accused Siddharth Vashishtha alias Manu Sharma, in the case.
Lal was shot dead during a party at the Tamarind Court bar here Apr 29, 1999 that was functioning without a liquor license.
© 2006 Indo-Asian News Service |