New Delhi, Oct 22: The first person who reportedly entered deceased scribe Shivani Bhatnagar's apartment after she was fatally attacked on January 23, 1999, B S Bhatnagar, today denied in a city court that he had introduced new facts in his testimony as against what he had told the police. "It is wrong to say that I have made a false explanation and have improved upon my earlier statement as directed by the police even by introducing new facts," Bhatnagar, who is also the brother-in-law of Shivani's husband, told Additional Sessions Judge Sunil Gaur.
Yesterday, the witness had told the court that as he entered the apartment, he heard the cries of Shivani's child, whom he gathered in his arms before stepping out.
When shown portions of his statement to police where he reportedly had told that the child was sleeping, Bhatnagar clarified that what he had in fact said was that the child was weeping.
He had also told the court that as he moved out of the apartment that day, he saw a sweet box wrapped in polythene, some tea in a cup and snacks in a wooden bowl in the living room.
However, he said, he had not mentioned this fact to the police as they had not asked him about it.
Bhatnagar, whose statement was recorded by police just two days after the murder, said he was more at ease now and could give clearer details of what he saw.
Bureau Report