Pramod Mahanjan murder case:Court defers technical demo

Mumbai, Nov 12 (UNI) A local court here today adjourned till November 15, demonstration by a technical expert about how SMS messages could be contrived using the Microsoft Visual Studio tool, after both the defence and prosecution agreed to use a new handset for the same, in the BJP leader Parmod Mahajan murder case.

Arguing before Additional Sessions Judge S P Dawre, the defence today said they wanted to use the handset of Pramod Mahajan and wanted to prove that SMS could be tampered.

However, the prosecution strongly opposed the defence's submission, arguing that by using the deceased's handset for the said demonstration would lead to tampering of the evidence, which is one of the vital piece in the case.

Later, after lenghty arguments, both of them agreed to conduct the demonstration on a new handset of the same company which was used by Mahajan.

Earlier, while deposing before the court, technical expert Harikrishna B had told the court that SMS messages could be tamperd using the latest technologey.

On hearing this, the judge had asked the witness to give a demonstration in order to substantiate the defence's claim.

Advocate Harshad Ponda, appearing for accused Pravin Mahajan, had earlier questioned the witness whether an SMS could be tampered by any means, and the witness had replied in the affirmative. Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam had, then, urged the court to direct the witness to give a demonstration in the court.

The defence's contention is that the SMS message, allegedly sent by Pravin Mahajan to his elder brother Pramod a few days before the latter was shot at, was fabricated and had not been sent by Pravin Mahajan at all. The SMS read, ''Ab Yachana Nahi Ran Hoga, Jivan Vijay Ke Sath Ya Maran Hoga.'' Pravin stands accused of murdering Pramod Mahajan who was shot at on April 22 last year and succumbed to his injuries at the hospital on May 3, 2006. Over 32 prosecution witnesses have already been examined in the case.

UNI