Present week crucial in Jessica investigation: official

New Delhi, Apr 24 (UNI) The present week is crucial for investigation into the Jessica Lall murder case with a series of 'critical' questionings lined up, according to a senior official involved in monitoring the case progress.

With Special Commissioner (Administration) Y S Dadwal, who was present at the party on the intervening night of April 28/29, 1999 when the murder took place, having been questioned last week, Additional Commissioner (Security) Sudhir Yadav is likely to be questioned this week, said the official.

''This week Sudhir Yadav, who was DCP (South) at the time when Jessica was killed, could be questioned anytime.'' ''There are other several important people lined up for questioning whom we plan to talk to this week,'' he said.

''So far 30 people have been questioned in the case,'' the officer added.

Among other 'senior officials' to be questioned in the case is Director General of Police (Arunachal Pradesh) Amod Kanth, who was then Joint Commissioner of Police (Southern Range).

Vivek Gogia, then Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) and presently Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) Chandigarh has already been questioned by the Special Investigations Team (SIT), formed to 'reinvestigate' the case and probe forgery of evidence during the course of investigation.

Denying media reports that one of the accused Vikas Gill had escaped to the United States, giving police a slip, he said teams have been sent to Punjab to trace Vikas Gill.

''There are no confirmed reports that he has left the national shores.'' Vikas Gill has been charged with ''destruction of evidence'' and ''harbouring the accused (Manu Sharma)''.

The SIT was formed on March 6 following widespread public outcry after all the nine accused in the murder of model Jessica Lall were acquitted on the basis of 'lack of evidence' and 'shoddy investigation'.

Model Jessica Lal, was allegedly shot dead by Manu Sharma, son of Haryana Minister Vinod Sharma, on the night of April 28/29 at a party hosted by socialite Bina Ramani at a posh South Delhi restaurant 'Tamarind Court' after she refused to serve him a drink.

UNI AN VJ VP2002