NEW DELHI, MARCH 26: Romesh Sharma's nephew Surinder Mishra allegedly told the police that his uncle paid Rs 2 lakh for Kunzom Budhiraj's murder. While Mishra was arrested in Ahmedabad, a police team has been sent to Allahabad to track down the other four suspects.According to the police, it was Surinder and Dolly who brokered the deal. They allegedly spoke to Mongolpuri resident Hem Chand to get Kunzom killed. It was Mishra who got Hem Chand and his men -- dressed as guards -- into the Jai Mata Di farmhouse, said senior police officials.
Mishra allegedly told the police that Kunzom was becoming unmanageable for his uncle. She knew too much about his deals, and, despite giving her a house in Hauz Khas and a Pajero for her father, she kept demanding more. Killing her was the only way to stop the demands, Mishra allegedly told the police.
Tejinder Virdi (Dolly) and Jaspreet Virdi (Sonu) were produced in court around 3.30 pm today. They have been remanded to judicial custody till April 8. A case of murderand criminal conspiracy has been registered against them. A senior police official said, ``Dolly was definitely a part of the conspiracy, and had a major role in the planning of Kunzom's murder. Sonu was merely her accomplice.''
The sleepy corridors of the Patiala House courts were buzzing with activity again today when the two -- Sharma's `rakhi sisters' -- were produced in the court of Metropolitan Magistrate V K Khanna. Scores of people gathered for a quick glance.
The sisters quick-marched into the courtroom with the Mehrauli police station officials, all the while hiding their faces behind their dupattas. Once inside the court room, Dolly -- a law graduate -- took charge. She repeatedly prompted her lawyer Navin Kumar Matta.
``They did not bring any warrant when they came to arrest us. There was no evidence against us,'' she said, which her counsel duly submitted to the magistrate. The defence complained that the police had not provided them with any arrest memo. ``We are not aware of the sectionsunder which my clients have been booked,'' said defence counsel.
The magistrate asked the investigating officer (IO) to show the arrest memo and the FIR. The IO also informed the magistrate that the police had recovered a cellular phone from the two sisters.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.