ANI

New Delhi, Feb 19: The Delhi High Court on Monday upheld the death sentence to Sushil Sharma convicted in the 1995 Tandoor murder case.  
 
On July 2, 1995, Sharma, a former leader of Youth Congress, shot his wife Naina Sahani from a point blank range and later disposed off her body in a tandoor (clay oven).

A division bench of Justices R S Sodhi and P K Bhasin pronounced the judgement after the order was reserved on January 17.

Sharma was suspicious of his wife Naina's fidelity and was keeping an eye on her relation with former classmate Matlub Karim. On the day of committing murder, Sharma walked in at Naina's Gole market residence and found her talking to Karim on phone. In a fit of rage Sharma fired at Naina from his licensed pistol and she died on the spot.

Sharma took the help of Keshav Kumar, manager of Bagiya restaurant in central Delhi, to dispose the body in the restaurant's tandoor.

On November 7, 2003, based on 19-page charge-sheet filed by the Delhi police, trial court awarded death sentence to Sharma. Kumar was also held guilty of conspiring to burn the body, and was given seven years of rigorous imprisonment.

The trial court also convicted three other accused for destroying evidence.

Sharma and Kumar had appealed in the High Court on December 8, 2003 against the trial court order.

The defence lawyer K K Sud argued the very basis of the prosecution argument saying that Naina and Sharma were not married and Sharma was not staying at the Gole market house, where he allegedly shot Naina.

The prosecution however, held on to a neighbour's statement who was witness to Sharma burning the body. Also, beat constable Abdul Nazir Kunju gave his testimony to prove Sharma guilty. (ANI)

Following is the chronology of events in the Tandoor murder case in which a Delhi court had convicted former youth Congress leader Sushil Sharma and Keshav Kumar but acquitted three other accused — Jai Prakash Pehlwan, Rishi Raj Rathi and Ram Prakash Sachdeva.

Order ! Order ! - in this order:

July 2/3 1995 Police recover burnt remains of Naina Sahni, wife of former youth Congress leader Sushil Sharma, from the Tandoor at the hotel's Baghiya restaurant on the intervening night. Restaurant manager Keshav Kumar arrested from the spot.

July 10, 1995 Prime accused Sushil Sharma arrested in Bangalore, produced in local court and brought to Delhi on transit remand.

July 11, 1995 Sharma formally arrested by Delhi police.

July 12, 1995 Metropolitan magistrate remands Sharma to 10-day police custody.

July 27, 1995 Delhi police files 19-page chargesheet against Sharma.

August 31, 1995 Case committed for sessions trial.

September 7, 1995 Sharma appears before sessions court.

May 9, 1996 Additional sessions judge frames charges in the case. Sharma along with Keshav charged under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder) and 201 (destruction of evidence) besides Jai Prakash Pehlwan, Rishi Raj Rathi and Ram Prakash Sachdeva under Section- 212 (harbouring accused) of IPC.

January 1997 First witness in the case examined.

September 27, 1999 Day-to-day proceedings begin.

April 17, 2001 Delhi High Court orders transfer of the case back to additional sessions judge GP Thareja from ASJ VK Jain's court.

November 2001 PK Dham appointed amicus curiae in the case in place of KK Sud, who was appointed additional solicitor general.

July 2, 2003 Final arguments begins.

August 22, 2003 Amicus curiae Dham winds up arguments.

August 26, 2003 ASJ inspects Ashok Yatri Nivas which housed Baghiya restaurant.

September 5, 2003 Court grants Sharma the option to get back possession of Baghiya restaurant after rejecting an application filed by Hotel Queen Road Private Ltd seeking release of Ashok Yatri Nivas land.

August 23, 2003 The trial court reserves its order.

November 7, 2003 Sharm and Keshav Kumar convicted, but three others — Jai Prakas Pehlwan, Rishi Raj Rathi and Ram Prakash Sachdeva - were accused.

December 8, 2003 Sharma appeals against verdict

January 17, 2007 Delhi HC division bench of Justice R S Sodhi and Justice P K Bhasin reserves judgement in the Tandoor murder case.