IndiaPost.com - Court orders inquiry into TV channel's expose in BMW case

NEW DELHI: Stung by the TV expose of alleged collusion between the prosecution and defense in the sensational BMW case, the Delhi Government has dropped noted criminal lawyer I U Khan from the case as a city court ordered police inquiry into the sting operation.

The Delhi High Court also took suo motu cognizance of the expose and directed that all the documents relating to the case and the CD of the sting operation be placed before it on June 11. The court said it is a serious issue concerning the administration of criminal justice system.

Khan, Special Public Prosecutor, opted out of the case after NDTV showed footage of eyewitness Sunil Kulkarni alleging that he was being referred to senior advocate R K Anand, defending the main accused Sanjeev Nanda.

Sanjeev, grandson of former Navy Chief S M Nanda, is facing trial for mowing down six persons in south Delhi in his BMW car in 1999. Manik Kapoor and Rajiv are also accused in the case. Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Kumar ordered police inquiry into the sting operation and directed Managing Editor of the NDTV and reporters involved in it to appear before him with un-edited copies of the CD or tape.

Rubbishing allegations that he had colluded with the prosecution to influence the key witness, Anand threatened to sue the channel Khan said the sting was "fabricated and doctored" and that he had been made a fall guy in the case.

"I am waiting for the whole tape to come. I am going to sue them. I am not going to leave them," Anand told PTI here. On the allegation that he tried to influence a key witness in the case Sunil Kulkarni, he said, "Where is the evidence? Was I on camera giving money to Kulkarni to give a statement in favor of my client? Was I on camera offering money?"

He said the sting operation was "thrust upon me" and alleged the tapes shown were "fabricated" and showed him speaking out of context. He added he had not called Kulkarni. "I did not call Kulkarni. He came on his own and talked with me," he said.

"They have no evidence of my collusion with the prosecution," Anand said. The Congress party has said if the NDTV expose in the high-profile BMW hit-and-run-case involving senior lawyer and party leader R K Anand was true, then it was "shocking and condemnable".

"The matter requires thorough investigation to establish its veracity. However, if true, it is obviously shocking and condemnable", party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said.