2007- A year of landmark judgements

7. C P shoot out case
In an another land mark jurisdiction by court, a Delhi court in 2007 convicted ten policemen for a nine year old fake shoot out in City's heart killing two businessman in broad day light. The court had awarded life sentence to all the convicts. Though the main convict S S Rathi- the Assistant commissioner of Police under whom the shoot out had taken place had challenged his sentence in Delhi High Court over which Court had issued notices to CBI and Delhi police. The High Cour will hear the case further in 2008.

8. BMW case
It seems that the infamous BMW hit and run case would not reach its zenith in the near future. Sanjeev Nanda- businessman and grandson of former admiral, who is the prime accused in the case allegedly crushed six people including two police personnel. The case took a lot of twists and turns in 2007. When on one hand a witness testified to seeing Nanda on the drivers seat, the statement later found opposition as Nanda's finger prints did not match the samples taken from the car's steering wheel. The case took an altogether different turn when a private news channel aired a sting operation showing Sunil Kulkarni- the prime witness from the counsel, settling negotiations to change his statement. Though Kulkarni posed himself as conducting the sting for deposing the facts, the Court later ordered a probe into the sting and debarred Kulkarni from being the prime witness in the case. In this sting, defence Cousel and senior advocate R K Anand was also caught settling the case with prosecutor I U Khan with help of Kukarni. The main case is under trial in lower court while the sting case is in the High Court.

9.Uphaar tragedy
It was a typical case of justice delayed but not denied. After 10 years of legal battle, Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) finally got justice when a Delhi court convicted the Ansal brothers in the Uphaar tragedy case. The tragedy had claimed 57 lives when fire broke out in the Uphaar theatre during while a show was on. Though the victims' families were not happy over the sentences awarded to Ansal brothers, they were satisfied that justice was finally pronounced. Ansal brothers were convicted for inculpable homicide and got two years of imprisonment. They have now challenged their conviction in the Delhi High Court. The HC noticed all the parties for their response and will now hear the matter in 2008.

10.Praveen Mahajan
Pravin landed up with a life term
Praveen Mahajan was finally held guilty for murdering his brother and BJP leader Pramod Mahajan by the Mumbai Court and sentenced to a life term this December. The whole case was surrounded by lots of mystery. Praveen immediately after murdering his brother surrendered in front of the police but later denied committing the crime in the court. There were also some doubts raised over the SMSs which were received by Pramod Mahajan, just before his death and also Praveen's wife Sarangi's statements. But in the end, he was held guilty. It was a perfect example of inferiority complex within a family which led to a disaster in Mahajan clan. Sarangi has now challenged his husband's conviction in Mumbai High Court and it will now hear this matter in 2008.

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