Desai, who was questioned at the crime branch office at Shahibaug since morning till late evening, says he helped arrest Mishra out of gratitude for numerous favours shown by Sharma. ``If I have to show loyalty, it has to be for Romesh Sharma. I have nothing to get from Mishra,'' he says.

Desai says he has known Sharma for the past five to six years. ``We met in a Delhi-Mumbai flight. He (Sharma) introduced himself as a politician. He told me to meet him if I had any work in the government,'' he says.

Desai says Romesh has obliged him whenever he went to him for any work involving high-level politicians.

(However, crime branch source said Desai and Sharma came into contact through Alka Shah, who lives in Mumbai).

According to Desai, he frequents Delhi on weekly basis, meets Sharma in jail, and even acts as a messenger to Sharma's outside contacts. ``I also arrange for his clothes, food, etc. Besides, I am acting as Romesh Sharma's legal advisor since he was arrested.'' He said he had last visited Delhi on March 19, a day before Kunzom was murdered. Besides hiring lawyers, he follows up each case closely. Desai claims he even got Sharma get out of the charges under National Security Act (NSA).

Desai says he knew Kunjom very well. ``The murder is surely due to property dispute. It is a question of property worth Rs 2,000 crore. If Kunjom had married Romesh, Mishra would not have got any share in the property. That is why Kunjom was eliminated,'' he says. According to Desai, all charges levelled against Romesh Sharma are politically-motivated.

On how he tipped off police about Mishra, Desai said that on the evening (March 20) Kunjom was killed, Mishra called him up from Delhi railway station and said he was coming down to Ahmedabad, and requested for shelter.

``I immediately called up Kunjom's father Amratlal to inform Marouli police in New Delhi about Mishra's proposed visit.'' Soon, Delhi police called up Desai and requested him for help arrest Mishra.

According to Desai, Mishra arrived at Kalupur railway station on Sunday (March 21) via Mathura and Vadodara. ``He called up from the railway station and asked for my address around 4.00 pm. He arrived in an autorickshaw, and had food.''

Mishra then requested Desai to go to Delhi and arrange for money as he had just Rs 10,000 with him. ``I told him that I will go to Delhi. So he bought me an air ticket. Then we went for arranging for his stay. First we went to Toral Hotel in Sabarmati, but there was no room available. Then we went to Kapadia guest house near V S Hospital. There the room was to be available only at 10.00 pm. So we paid deposit, and I left for home.''

Meanwhile, Desai's wife informed Delhi police about Mishra's arrival in Ahmedabad. Delhi police, in turn, asked her to contact crime branch deputy superintendent of police Shubhash Trivedi.