NRI student’s death: City police question eyewitness’ disclosures

Almost a week after Ajit Sahi, a senior journalist with a news magazine, came forward as an eyewitness in the death of a 20-year-old NRI student Anmol Sarna, police have failed to question him, clearly ignoring the fact that Sahi could help them in reconstructing the sequence of event that might have led to Sarna’s death.

But the police have questioned Sahi’s account of the event.

Sahi has claimed that the security guards who have been booked on murder charges are actually innocent. ‘The duo is innocent. They are not responsible for Sarna’s murder because when the PCR van reached the South Park Apartment in south-east Delhi’s Kalkaji area, Sarna stood up on his own even though a police officer offered him support. Two policemen and Sarna exchanged words and Sarna walked unaided to the back of the PCR van. He was not bleeding and there were no injury marks present on his head or face.’ 

Sarna’s post-mortem report has however confirmed the presence of injury marks all over his body, including near his private parts. ‘The cause of death is alleged to be shock and hemorrhage due to multiple antemortem head injuries, caused by blunt weapon/force, sufficient to cause death in ordinary course of nature. At least 900 ml blood has came out of his body,’ the autopsy report reads.

When Millennium Post contacted the investigating officers, he raised questions on Sahi’s version of the story. ‘On the one hand, Sahi claims that when the PCR van took him to the hospital he was neither bleeding nor had any injury marks over his body. On the other hand, Sahi has alleged that the guards, whom he called via intercom from his apartment hit Sarna with their night sticks. Ask him to stick to his words first then blame the police,’ the officer said requesting anonymity.

Sahi, while describing Friday night’s events said, ‘In a bid to stop Sarna, who was behaving abnormal maybe due to an overdose of drugs, the security guards had beaten him up. There was blood on his chest, arms and shoulders. But none above the neck.’

‘We are likely to question Sahi to verify his allegations made in favour of the arrested security guards who have been sent to 14 days judicial custody by a Delhi court on Thursday,’ the official added.

Speaking to Millennium Post, Sahi said, ‘I don’t understand why the investigating officers have not contacted me, despite the fact that I am available to take their questions.’

Meanwhile, the arrested security guards — Surender Bali (46) and Naresh Mishra (60) were produced at the Saket court. Sarna’s family told the court that they are not happy with the investigation conducted so far.