: In a case where a Delhi University professor and his two colleagues and Delhi Police officials turned hostile, a court here has acquitted former Delhi University Students’ Union president Nakul Bhardwaj.
The Maurice Nagar police in North Delhi had charged the student leader of ABVP with using abusive language against the professor, the then librarian of the Delhi University Library, K.M. Shrimali, and damaging articles of his office when he was asked to wait outside after he sent his visiting card to him to meet in 2004.
Prof. Shrimali, the complainant in the matter, as well as his two colleagues—Komal Singh and Salim Anwar—refused to support the case when he was called to depose before the court.
Turnaround of events
Prof. Shrimali in his cross-examination said: “No such occurrence as alleged by him in his examination-in-chief ever happened. No computer processor and fax machine were broken. He has named the accused because of party politics. He cannot identify the accused as the matter is around 12 years old.’’
Prof. Shrimali also denied that the broken articles such as table glass and paper weight of his office were seized by the police and sealed and a visiting card of Nakul Bhardwaj was seized in his presence.
His two colleagues also deposed on similar lines.
Komal Singh, the then semi-assistant in the library, said in his evidence that he did not know any Nakul Bhardwaj, nothing was seized in his presence and that the police did not record his statement.
Salim Anwar, the then assistant librarian, denied that the police had recorded his statement or Prof. Shrimali gave a written complaint to the investigating officer in his presence.
All three witnesses had given these statements to the police during investigation.
Metropolitan Magistrate Shilpi Jain closed the case saying that “Nakul Bhardwaj stands acquitted for the offence under Section 427 (mischief, and thereby causing damage to the amount of Rs. 50 or upwards.) of the IPC”.
