BMW case: Sanjeev Nanda gets 5 years jail

New Delhi, Sep 5: Patiala High Court on Friday, Sep 5, sentenced Sanjeev Nanda, the key accused in the 1999 BMW hit and run case for five years. Businessman Rajiv Gupta gets one year rigorous imprisonment. A fine of Rs 10,000 is imposed on him. Six month jail was granted for helpers Bhola Nath and Shyam Singh also Rs 100 each to his two employees who were held guilty under section 201(destruction of evidence) of the IPC.

"Sanjeev Nanda, I award you five years jail term and the time earlier spent by you inside the jail would be deducted," said Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Kumar, who had earlier convicted him under a stringent penal provision which carries a maximum punishment of 10 years' imprisonment.

Manik Kapoor, a friend of Sanjeev Nanda, who was in the vehicle when accident happened, was acquitted by the Court on Monday, Sep 1. Nanda was sentenced under section 304(2) culpable homicide. Sanjeev Nanda's BMW mowed six people including three police men in 1999.

BMW hit-and-run case: Timeline

Jan 10, 1999: Six persons, including three policemen were killed by a speeding BMW car allegedly driven by Nanda in Lodhi Colony area of New Delhi. Following the oil trail, the police reach a house in Golf Links area where the car was allegedly being washed. Police arrest Nanda, co-accused Manik Kapoor and Sidhartha Gupta, who was later discharged by the Delhi High Court.

Jan 11, 1999: Police asked for the convicts custodial interrogation.

Apr 7, 1999: Cops file chargesheet against accused under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 201 (destruction of evidence) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC.

Aug 3, 1999: Court frames charges against the accused.

Aug 18, 1999: Court starts recording testimonies of prosecution witnesses.

Sep 30, 1999: Prosecution drops Mumbai-based Sunil Kulkarni as an eye-witness, condemning him as a won-over man.

Dec, 2003: Recording of prosecution witnesses' testimony concludes with the examination of the 61th witness.

Jan, 2, 2004: Nanda starts recording statements.

May 14, 2007: Kulkarni records statement as court witness. He identifies Nanda as one of the occupants of the car, but says he did not see Nanda on the driving seat.

May 30, 2007: A news channel airs a sting operation showing collusion between Nanda's counsel, R K Anand, and prosecutor I U Khan to subvert administration of Justice.

May 31, 2007: Khan asked to withdraw as prosecutor. Delhi High Court, meanwhile, issues contempt notices to both lawyers, after taking suo motu cognizance of the sting.

Dec 7, 2007: Defence starts examining witnesses.

Aug, 1, 2008: Prosecution concludes final arguments.

Aug 20, 2008: Defence concludes final arguments.

Aug 21, 2008: HC holds Khan and Anand guilty of contempt and bars them from appearing in courts for 4 months.

Aug 26, 2008: Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Kumar reserves the verdict and fixes September 2 for judgement.

Aug 29, 2008: Nanda claims innocence and refers to apex court judgements in its support.

Sep 2, 2008: Court convicts Sanjeev Nanda for mowing down six persons. Three others, including businessman Rajeev Gupta and his two employees Bhola Nath and Shyam Singh, convicted for destruction of evidence. Another co-accused Manik Kapoor acquitted.

Sep 3, 2008: Court reserves order on quantum of sentence after hearing arguments from prosecution and convicts.

Sep 5, 2008: Nanda gets five years jail term. Gupta and his employees get one year and six months prison terms, respectively.

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