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Madhu Sharma alleges Mahajan's involvement in Shivani's murder

The Shivani Bhatnagar murder investigation took a sensational turn on Thursday night when Madhu Sharma, wife of senior Indian Police Service officer Ravi Kant Sharma -- a prime suspect in the case -- pointed an accusatory finger at Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan.

"Now I am naming him, do you (media) have the guts to go and ask him or Advani (Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani)? They (government) are harbouring a criminal, Pramod Mahajan. Go and ask Pramod Mahajan why did he murder her?" a near-hysterical Madhu Sharma told a group of television reporters Thursday night at her residence in Panchkula.

Later in the evening, Mahajan dismissed the charge as 'baseless', and said he was willing to submit to a probe by any agency.

Why, Madhu Sharma demanded, were the Delhi police singling out her husband? Alleging that Mahajan had spoken to Bhatnagar for 45 minutes on the day of the murder and that the minister had a relationship with the slain journalist, Sharma demanded that the Delhi police disclose all details about all calls made by Mahajan to the deceased.

Her interaction with television reporters was in effect a questionnaire for the Delhi police.

Why has the Delhi police, now into its third year of investigation, not disclosed the names of politicians with whom Bhatnagar was in touch?

Why is the name of Ravi Kant Sharma -- her husband -- singled out?

Why is Deputy Prime Minister Advani putting pressure on investigators to toe a particular line?

Sharma said that her husband, an officer of inspector general of police rank, had informed investigators about the involvement of a politician, three months after the killing. On that occasion, Madhu Sharma alleged, her husband was told that the police were aware of it but could not question the politician.

The police, Madhu Sharma alleged, had a one line directive not to question any politician.

Accusing the Delhi police of harassing her daughters, her sister and herself, she said her husband would appear before the police. "My husband is hiding where Pramod Mahajan used to meet Shivani Bhatnagar," she yelled into the television cameras.

"If you order a CBI probe he will appear before them (the police)."

A non-bailable warrant has been issued against Sharma, who is absconding. On Tuesday, his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by a Delhi court. And on the previous Saturday, a local Panchkula court had rejected a similar bail application.

Read Also:

Pramod Mahajan denies allegation; ready to face probe

I D Swami rules out CBI probe into Bhatnagar murder

The Shivani Bhatnagar Murder: The Complete Coverage

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