File pic: Sushil Sharma, who was convicted of killing wife Naina Sahani and burning the body in a tandoor
I waited with anxiety for the Chief Justice bench in the Supreme Court to assemble to deliver the second judgement.
As Supreme Court Judge Ranjana Prakash Desai today read out her verdict in the infamous Tandoor murder case, commuting the death sentence of Sushil Sharma to life term, my memory travelled back 18 years.
The incident happened in July 1995 at a government quarter in Gole Market area of central Delhi. I lived a few metres away from this house at Mandir Marg, working as a reporter for
Ananda Vikatan and
Junior Vikatan - both Tamil magazines from the erstwhile Gemini studios of Chennai.
My editor called me and said I should cover this case and Tamil readers would like to know every detail. Immediately, I swung into action along with my photographer.
We went to the house 8/2A and spoke to the neighbours. We then went to the hotel where Sushil's wife Naina Sahani was burnt in a tandoor, or clay oven. We took photographs of the tandoor and the hotel. The hotel guard was reluctant to speak.
There was no mail or scan at that time, so I faxed my story and sent the photos by courier.
My story was carried on the cover page of
Junior Vikatan with a number of photos of the tandoor.
In 2007, I shifted to Gole market despite the reservations of my friends. Their worry - I was moving into a flat just above the one where Naina Sahani was murdered!
I never thought I would be reporting the case again after 18 years.
I have often been asked whether the ghost of Naina roams those flats. Our neighbour once told my wife she had seen an elderly woman on the stairs at midnight, staring at her! She insisted she had seen Naina Sahani's ghost! But I have never had a chance to meet the 'ghost' so far.
Disclaimer:The opinions expressed within this blog are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this blog. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing on the blog do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.