On February 15, 2008, the trial court had convicted Sharma for murdering Kunjum Budhiraja on March 20, 1999 at Sharma's South Delhi-based 'Jai Mata Di' farm house.
The Delhi high court today acquitted Romesh Sharma, alleged frontman of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the fashion designer Kunjum Budhiraja murder case.
The court also acquitted co-accused Tejendir Verdi, who was sentenced to life imprisonment, while upholding the life sentences of four others — Sharma's nephew Surinder Mishra, Hemchand, Santram and Ramesh alias Bobby.
A division bench comprising justices Pradeep Nandrajog and Suresh Kait allowed the plea filed by Sharma and Virdi alias Dolly, but dismissed the appeals of the other four, who challenged their conviction and punishment handed down by the trial court.
"We hold that far from the motive being established as alleged by the prosecution, the reverse stands established that Romesh Sharma and Kunjum were in love, and desired the company of each other. It does not establish that Sharma had got fed up with her," the bench said.
The judges made this observation while rejecting the prosecution's contention that Sharma wanted to get rid of Kunjum, as she knew about his alleged illegal activities.
The court also turned down the prosecution's plea that Sharma had enacted a "drama" while attending her funeral.
"A grieving lover falling over the dead body of his mate and performing the rituals of a marriage can well be an expression of lasting love, and need not necessarily be a drama," the bench said.
Sharma, while being produced in another case at a Tees Hazari court here, said that his acquittal "is victory of truth.
I have full faith in judiciary," he said.
On February 15, 2008, the trial court had convicted Sharma, Verdi, Mishra, Hemchand, Santram, Ramesh for murdering Budhiraja on March 20, 1999 at Sharma's South Delhi-based 'Jai Mata Di' farm house.
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