Key witness of BMW hit-and-run case refuses to identify Nanda

New Delhi, May 29 (UNI) Sunil Kulkarni, a key witness in the 1999 BMW hit-and-run case, today refused to identify Sanjeev Nanda in the case during his cross-examination before a local court.

When asked to identify the accused, Kulkarni told the Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Kumar that a fat man came out from the driver's side after the accident and he was not present in the court.

He said Sanjeev Nanda was not the occupant of the driver's seat.

Sanjeev Nanda, grandson of former Navy Chief S M Nanda, along with three others, is accused of mowing down six people, including three policemen, near Lodhi Hotel on January 10, 1999.

On September 30, 1999, Kulkarni was dropped by the prosecution as a witness after police accused him of aligning with the defence and after two other eyewitnesses-- Manoj Malik and Hari Shankar-- turned hostile.

According to Kulkarni, at the time of recording of statement under Section 164 of the CrPC before Metropolitan Magistrate there was no pressure on him. But, earlier, at the time of recording of statements under section 161 of the CrPC, he was under police pressure.

No one was present at the time of recording of the statements and he signed the statement before the Metropolitan Megistrate after reading it.

The Additional Sessions Judge adjourned the matter for further examination of Kulkarni to May 31, 2007.

UNI