KUAMRHATTI: Whether it is ethical wrong for them or fear of getting allegation on going biased , the lawyers at Kasauli and Solan are not very much keen to contest the case of Flight Lieutenant , Anubhav Rao who was allegedly murdered by a Kasauli based lawyer.
The 24-year-old Indian Air Force fighter pilot was stabbed to death on April 11 allegedly by Mr. Hari Dass Tanwar who hailed from Mashobara village on the outskirts of Kasauli in an apparent case of road rage.
Although none of the lawyers want to be quoted but all of them are very vocal in their colleague support who as per them a victim of circumstances. The accused having no such past record of getting violent was actually not at fault as he was travelling with his family when the crime took place, maintained lawyers. Mr. Tanwar who was with his family including kids had used the weapon in his self-defence when provoked by the deceased and his friends, they pointed out.
On the other side, the victim’s father, Dr Ram Kumar Yadav who was quite aware of this development has already expressed apprehensions regarding the probe. In a missive to Mrs. Pratibha Patil the President and Mr. Prem Kumar Dhumal the Himachal Chief Minister, he has demanded a probe by a central agency. The father has even maintained that the local police was not conducting the investigation in a fair manner.
Dr Yadav, a senior scientist with Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar, has said: “being a lawyer, the accused can easily act upon the police, his fraternity and the witnesses.â€
Alleging that the local Bar was in the favour of the accused, Yadav said if the accused gets a bail he would further influence the investigation. The accused will be produced in the court of District and Sessions Judge, Solan, P.C. Sharma, for bail on June 5.
Countering Dr. Yadav apprehension, the local lawyers maintained that had it been possible the accused might have got bail till now.
Although the lawyers have sympathy for the accused, it’s for the court to decide the case. They are not influencing the case,†clarified a local lawyer.
The pilot, who was posted at the Ambala Air Force Base, was accompanied by three others from New Delhi. They had gone to Shimla for some work and decided to spend the night at Kasauli on their way back. But on the way to Kasauli at Garkhal market they exchanged hot words with the lawyer regarding overtaking of vehicle.
Mr. S.R. Rana, SP, Solan said both sides chased each other for some kilometers before they got down and had a fight. Tanwar took out a sharp-edged weapon and allegedly stabbed Rao and his friend Sameer Yadav.
Rao was rushed to the military hospital at Kasauli from where he was referred to the Chandimandir Western Command hospital near Chandigarh. Rao was declared dead by the hospital authorities there.
