Defence dubs prosecution's claim of money as motive 'false'

Mumbai, Dec 4 (UNI) Defence Advocate H H Ponda today told the court that the prosecution's claim of money being the motive behind the murder of BJP leader Pramod Mahajan was false as was the claim of the threatening SMS sent by accused Pravin Mahajan.

Making his final argument before Additional Sessions Court Judge S P Davare, Mr Ponda said the SMS was fabricated to falsely implicate his client in the case.

Mr Ponda said Pramod, on his way to the hospital after being shot, had allegedly told Gopinath Munde ''Me Asha Kay Gunha Kela Ki Pravin Ne Mala Gollya Marle'', which was recorded in the police statement of Mr Munde. However, key witness Rekha Mahajan had not stated so before the police.

He also questioned why the prosecution had not examined Anand Rao, son-in-law of the deceased, because he was the one who had driven the car while taking Pramod to the hospital.

The defence advocate further said key witnesses-- Rekha Mahajan and Mr Munde, were tutored to falsely implicate the accused.

UNI