TV channel claims new BMW case expose

Television channel NDTV on Monday claimed that a key prosecution witness in the infamous BMW case was in league with defence lawyer R K Anand, who dismissed the charge as 'false and baseless.'

The channel, which had done a sting operation in May last alleging an attempt to bribe the key witness Sunil Kulkarni, aired a story on Monday night alleging that Kulkarni stayed in the lawyer's house in Shimla between October, 1999 and April, 2001.

It also claimed that Kulkarni acquired a driving license in Himachal Pradesh in the name of Nishikant Sharma giving R K Anand's Shimla address and showing him as his father.

BMW case involves Sanjeev Nanda, who is alleged to have mowed down six people in January 1999, is the grandson of former Naval Chief Admiral S M Nanda and Anand advised the family on the case.

Anand, who was suspended by the Bar Councils of India and Delhi, both of which were rescinded after a short while, dismissed the charge against him and said he had no connection with Kulkarni.

Terming the allegations as 'baseless and false,' he said Kulkarni had never stayed in his Shimla residence. Anand said anybody could claim connection with him and put his address for getting a driving license.

The channel claimed that Kulkarni had also acted on behalf of Anand to make insurance claims for damage to his house wall and secured a compensation of Rs three lakh.

Commenting on the expose, Congress spokesman Abishek Singhvi and former Solicitor General Soli Sorabjee suggested that any fresh evidence should be produced before courts and authorities for the law to take its course.