The court is expected to give the verdict on February 13.

Budhiraja was found murdered in Sharma’s south Delhi farmhouse on March 20, 1999. She had gone to offer navratra prayers at a temple built by Romesh Sharma at his farmhouse.

According to the prosecution, Sharma, then lodged in Tihar, came out on parole to attend Budhiraja’s funeral and carried out wedding rituals at the cremation ground

With both eyewitnesses turning hostile in the case, the prosecution argued, drawing a parallel to the Jessica Lal case.

In their submission, the prosecution said: “Though the two eyewitnesses have turned hostile, there is enough circumstantial evidence regarding the commission of the offence by the accused. It is very similar to the Jessica Lal murder case, in which all the accused were convicted by the Delhi High Court on the basis of available circumstances even as all the three eye-witness had turned hostile.”

Sharma has been charged with conspiring to kill Budhiraja, while Sharma’s nephew, Surender Mishra, and his two accomplices Dolly and Sonu have been charged with murdering her. Sharma is still in Tihar on a host of charges, including his alleged link with Dawood Ibrahim.

The prosecution claimed Sharma’s letter and Budhiraja’s half finished letters are strong circumstantial evidence, which proves Sharma’s guilt.

“Romesh Sharma was the only person who could have persuaded Kunjum to go the farmhouse on the fateful day. He gave all the necessary directions about the same to Budhiraja in his letter,” the prosecution submitted.