The Defence counsel in the Pramod Mahajan murder trial alleged that the SMS purportedly sent to the late BJP leader by his brother was 'fabricated' by the police.
MUMBAI: The Defence counsel in the Pramod Mahajan murder trial on Friday alleged that the SMS purportedly sent to the late BJP leader by his brother Pravin Mahajan was 'fabricated' by the police.
Pravin allegedly shot Pramod on April 22 last year at the latter's Worli residence in Central Mumbai.
Prosecution's case is that Pravin had sent a threatening text message to Pramod a few days before the incident. The SMS allegedly conveyed that 'there would be no more begging but a final confrontation'.
Defence lawyer Harshad Ponda, however, today argued that the police could not figure out the motive for murder, allegedly committed by Pravin and hence, they fabricated the text message.
During the cross-examination of police officer Ramakant Dhole, Ponda asked if he had read the statements of the late leader's wife Rekha, daughter Poonam, domestic help Mahesh Wankhede and brother-in-law Gopinath Munde. Dhole affirmed that he read the statements.
Ponda, further asked, if Dhole was present in court when Rekha and Wankhede deposed, which he affirmed.
Ponda then suggested that as the police could not figure out the motive of murder during investigation, they took cue from Rekha's deposition. Rekha had told the court that Pravin had demanded Rs one crore from Pramod and threatened him with dire consequences if he refused.
The police held the issue of Rs one crore as motive and fabricated the SMS in support of Rekha's submission, Ponda alleged. Dhole, however, denied the allegation.
The case will come up for further hearing on October 29, when accused Pravin's statement will be recorded.
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