New Delhi, May 24: Senior IPS officer and main accused in the murder of journalist Shivani Bhatanagar, R K Sharma's interim bail plea to undergo a back surgery was today rejected by the Delhi High Court. Directing Sharma to undergo treatment at AIIMS, Justice O P Dwivedi dismissed Sharma's plea saying, he had been absconding during investigation of the case.
Earlier, the trial court had rejected his similar plea on the basis of medical report saying that the surgery did not require urgency.
Sharma had sought his release on interim bail for four months claiming that he wants to undergo a surgery for back ailment.
The court had sought a status report from Tihar Jail superintendent on Sharma's health as the accused claimed that he had been sufferring from the back ailment since February 2002 and taking treatment for the same in the jail and from hospitals where he was referred to.
Doctors at AIIMS then diagnosed and confirmed the problem to his lumbar region and advised him to consult a neuro surgeon, the accused officer claimed in his bail application.
Sharma along with five others has been chargesheeted for the murder of the Indian Express journalist in her East Delhi apartment on January 23, 1999.
Bureau Report