The judge who set free three accused in the 2005 Sarojini Nagar market blast, which claimed 67 lives and injured more than 200, made scathing observations on Investigating Officer (IO) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav for his “lackadaisical attitude in investigating the role of accused Tariq Ahmad Dar”. 

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At present, Yadav is serving as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Anti-Terror Unit, Special Cell, Delhi Police.

The Special Cell had alleged that Dar, a medical representative with Johnson & Johnson (J&J), had received Rs 1,401,000 from another accused Ghulam Ahmad Khan through hawala, and the money was used for terror activities. Also, there were foreign remittances and deposits of foreign currency worth Rs 2,609,759 in his account. The court said there was nothing to prove that the money in Dar’s account was used for terror activities.

Investigators relied upon two HDFC bank accounts in Srinagar to establish the illegal flow of funds. They assumed that Dar’s only source of income was his salary. The court quashed the theory as records established that Dar was also a partner in the Jhelum Trading Corporation. 

IO Yadav, who visited the HDFC bank in Srinagar, failed to mention in the probe that there was a third account in Dar’s name that had funds coming from his company. 

The court also said the investigators failed to identify that Dar was also receiving commission from sales turnover from his employer. A J&J employee had later deposed in the court confirming that Dar received a regular commission. 

“It is hard to conceive that IO Yadav made inquiries from the said HDFC bank branch but did not find the existence of a third account of Jhelum Trading Corporation,” the court said. 

The court also observed that in a statement recorded on May 26, 2015, DCP Yadav stated that he was not aware whether the Galen Agency was the sole distributor of J&J. In another instance, however, he said that it was correct that Dar was working for Galen.

“He (Yadav) could not say whether Dar was working in the said organisation from 1997. He could not admit or deny the suggestion that Galen used to get commission from J&J,” the court order stated. “These facts raise reasonable doubt regarding the version of the prosecution that the only source of income for Dar was his salary received from J&J,” it added.  

Standing his ground on Friday, however, DCP Yadav said: “Dar confessed that the money he received was used to provide logistical and financial help. We might approach higher court.”

“ In his disclosure, Dar gave a few leads because of which we could reach Abu Ozaifa, who was later killed in an encounter,” Yadav added. Earlier this month, three accused were acquitted after being in jail for 11 years. Though Dar expresses relief, he also said he was disappointed at the slow pace of the case which destroyed his career.