Shivani murder case: R K Sharma to challenge conviction

"It has to be an appeal," Sharma's counsel S P Minocha said, on being asked about his reaction to the conviction.

He, however, refused to elaborate on the probable grounds for the appeal.

A fast track city court, while convicting Sharma and three others for murder today, held the Haryana cadre IPS officer, who has been in jail for over five years, as the ‘main conspirator’ in the January 23, 1999 murder of The Indian Express journalist.

Pradeep Sharma, described by the court as Shivani's ‘killer’, also plans to file an appeal in the High Court against the trial court verdict.

"First, we have to make a submission before the court concerned on the quantum of sentence on March 20, only then can we decide on filing an appeal in the High Court," said D B Goswami, Pradeep's counsel.

The court convicted accused R K Sharma, Satya Prakash, Sri Bhagwan and Pradeep Sharma for hatching a criminal conspiracy and murdering the journalist.

It, however, acquitted Ved Prakash Sharma and Ved alias Kalu as the prosecution failed to substantiate charges against them.