HC order to help speeding up investigations: Police Commissioner

New Delhi, Mar 22 (UNI) Hailing the High Court decision to admit the Delhi Police's appeal challenging the acquittal of the nine accused in the murder of model Jessica Lall, Police Commissioner K K Paul today said the court's stand was 'positive' and would help in speeding up investigations in the case.

Talking to reporters soon after the High Court admitted the Delhi Police appeal, the Commissioner said, ''The High Court has admitted the appeal filed by the Delhi Police ... it would help speed up the investigation in the case.'' Expressing satisfaction at the pace of investigation into the murder which led to a nationwide outcry after all the nine accused were acquitted recently, Mr Paul said it was ''progressing satisfactorily''.

Assuring of strict action against anyone found guilty in the case, the Commissioner said, ''Action would be taken against every person found guilty, even against police officers.'' Stressing that the police had already registered a case in connection with destruction, tampering and fabrication of evidence at the Mehrauli police station on March 6, the Commissioner said, ''In our prayer we had asked for issuance of non-bailable warrants to arrest the accused.'' This has been specifically mentioned in the appeal, he added.

Model Jessica Lall was shot dead at a posh South Delhi restaurant 'Tamarind Court' in Mehrauli area here, owned by socialite Bina Ramani, on the night of April 29, 1999 allegedly by Manu Sharma, son of Haryana Minister Vinod Sharma.

Manu Sharma along with Vikas Yadav, son of Uttar Pradesh politician and former Rajya Sabha member D P Yadav, and seven others Amardeep Singh Gill alias Tony, Aloke Khanna (both senior officials in a leading beverages company), Shyam Sunder Sharma (a relative of former President Shankar Dayal Sharma), Harvinder Chopra, Vikas Gill, Raja Chopra, and former Indian cricketer Yograj Singh -- were acquitted by a lower court on February 21 this year after nearly seven years of court battle.

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