Youth and welfare minister Mukul Wasnik and former food minister Kalpnath Rai, who were accused by Sushil Sharma of having “illicit relations” with his wife Naina Sahni, denied the charge.
Both the VIPs said they were “puzzled” why they had been named by Sharma, the prime suspect in the tandoor murder case, “Perhaps the game is to divert attention from the real culprits. I can see no other reason for this,” stressed Wasnik when asked if he had anything to say after the charges leveled against him in statement by Sharma recorded by the police.
According to sources monitoring the investigation of the case, Sharma has told the police that Kalpnath Rai, when he was food minister, used to take Naina with him on tours. Sharma has reportedly provided sufficient “tangible evidence” in support of his charge that his wife used to meet Rai secretly.
However, Rai, when contacted, denied that he knew Naina or her husband. “They might have been among the more than 500 people I daily meet at my residence, I have no, recollection whatsoever of ever having seen Naina, though I feel very sad the way this young woman has been murdered. If her husband suspected her loyalty he could have divorced her.”
When his attention was drawn to the allegation that he had frequently taken Naina on tours, Rai sai of GodI swear this is not true. Didn’t have even nodding acquaintance with her. It is all baseless. I can’t say why he has named me. My first wife died some time ago. After that I married another woman lives happily with me. There is no question of liaison with any one.”
According to Sharma’s statement to the police, Wasnik was the president of Indian Youth Congress when he and his wife Naina were appointed president and general secretaries of the Delhi Pradesh Youth Congress. Wasnik allegedly exploited his Position. Asked to comment on the allegation, Wasnik said “It is true that they were appointed when I was the president of the Youth Congress. But relinquished the charge four and a half years ago and have not met Sharma or Naina since then. It is very unfortunate that my name has been dragged in this case. But none of the allegations is based on facts” However, Wasnik admitted that he had first seen Naina when he was president of the National Students Union of India and she was one of its members. “I remember she was very active and energetic. But I resigned as NSUI president in 1988 and became the Youth Congress president, the post which I held for two years and eight months, After that I never met Sharma or Naina. That she was caught in a compromising position with me is all concocted,” Wasnik said.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 21, 1995
