A Delhi Court on Monday (Dec 17) granted pardon to Lokesh Sharma, who was an officer on special duty (OSD) to former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, in the case alleging illegal phone tapping of Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Anuj Kumar Singh allowed Sharma’s application for pardon after he agreed to disclose all facts related to the case. The judge said the case relates to a conspiracy hatched in darkness and the true facts can only be disclosed by Sharma as no other person had knowledge of the crime.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Monday granted pardon to Lokesh Sharma, the former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to ex-Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, in a high-profile case involving the alleged illegal phone tapping of Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Anuj Kumar Singh presided over the case and approved Sharma’s application for pardon after he agreed to reveal critical details pertaining to the alleged conspiracy.
“The case relates to a conspiracy hatched in darkness, and the true facts can only be disclosed by Sharma as no other person had knowledge of the crime,”
-noted the judge, emphasizing the importance of Sharma’s testimony.
The court highlighted that direct evidence in criminal conspiracies is often elusive.
CJM Singh remarked,
“Since it is a case of criminal conspiracy and it is difficult to procure direct evidence on such criminal conspiracy, the statement of accused/applicant Lokesh Sharma recorded under Section 164 CrPC is a material one and it would be in the interest of justice that he is granted pardon under Section 306 CrPC.”
The case against Sharma was registered in 2021 under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Indian Telegraph Act, and the Information Technology (IT) Act.
This followed a complaint by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, alleging that Sharma and others had unlawfully intercepted his phone conversations in 2020.
According to a PTI report, Sharma contended that Ashok Gehlot had provided him with audio recordings of alleged telephone conversations.
These recordings reportedly captured Shekhawat and several Congress leaders discussing strategies to “topple” the Congress government in Rajasthan during a political crisis in 2020.
In June 2021, the Delhi High Court stayed Sharma’s arrest. However, on November 14, 2023, Sharma withdrew his plea for relief. Subsequently, on November 21, a Delhi court granted him anticipatory bail. The decision was based on submissions by the Delhi Police, which acknowledged Sharma’s cooperation during the investigation.
He reportedly provided all relevant materials and documents in his possession.
Advocate Rohan Wadhwa represented Lokesh Sharma.
The court’s decision to pardon Sharma underscores his testimony in uncovering the intricate details of the alleged conspiracy.
The development could have far-reaching implications for the case and its eventual resolution.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES
