NEW DELHI: The tandoor murder case has seemed to focus attention on the nexus between crime and politics and how those with criminal records take refuge under the political umbrella which enables them to break the law impunity.
Sushil Sharma, the main accused in the case, did have several cases registered against him in different police stations all over the city. He had continued to be the Delhi Pradesh Youth Congress (DPYC) president despite that. Even Sharma’s successor Jagdesh Yadav has had criminal cases registered against him, one of them for attempted rape of an Afghan national in south Delhi. “In spite of that, he led a demonstration recently at the police headquarters, demanding the arrest of Cuchil Sharma. Sushil Sharma’s case is the most recent in the list of Congress leaders who have criminal cases pending against them and have been accommodated at senior party posts despite that. There are case pending against him at Kotwal, Karol Bagh, Sarai Rohilla and one of rioting at Connaught Place.
In fact, top leaders including Outer Delhi MP Sajjan Kumar and former Union minister H.K.L. Bhagat, have continued 10 function as if nothing has happened despite the fact that they were accused incases registered in connection with the 1984 riots, Another youth Congress leader: Nand Lal Rathi, had once been charged with kidnapping a girl while his party colleague, Narendra Chauhan went further he is alleged to have kidnapped and raped a maid. Needless to mention, the two wield considerable influence in the youth wing of the party even today. Similarly, a former general secretary of DPYC, Sunil Bajaj, is alleged to have abducted a girl from the Boat Club and the vehicle he used was that of a former youth Congress president. Party seniors stepped in after this and nothing has been heard of the case after that. Party men recall an incident similar to that of the Naina Sahni murder case. in 1988 when a former youth Congress worker, Satinder Kaur, had died under mysterious circumstances, She is said to have had relations with several senior Congress leaders and, according to records, her death was caused because she consumed a large number of sleeping pills. “The real facts never came to light in that case,” one Congressman said, insisting that she had actually been murdered and it was not a suicide as records maintain. “Some DPYC workers were involved,” he added. District and state level Congress workers, besides some top leaders, say that a lot of murky things that have been going on for several years, have not come to light during the past. Sushil Sharma is himself said to have been providing girls to senior politician including some ministers.
It is unfortunate that an incident like this had to take place for the skeletons to come out of the cupboard,” one of them said. Indian Youth Congress president M.S, Bitta was also reported as saying that Sushil Sharma used to provide girls to some ‘Congress leaders and that it needed to be probed.
However, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) and the YC are. yet to initiate any action against those party members who have had criminal records. With the opposition turning the heat on him, DPC president Deep Chand Bandhu last week announced the expulsion of Sushil ‘Sharma, the main accused in the Naina Sahni murder case. Significantly, he said that the names of those who have criminal cases pending against them and are members of the party, will be announced after permission was obtained from the high command.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 21, 1995
