While the police blame the eyewitnesses and other patrons for misleading them about the numbers; the latter claim that they always told the police about ``a large group, but the police insisted on only two persons from the beginning.''

Sources say that Amardeep Singh Gill alias Tony -- an executive with a Coke franchisee and MP D P Yadav's son Vikas Yadav were possibly in this group. While the police are already questioning Tony, they have sent summons in Vikas' name, asking him to present himself for questioning.

Joint Commissioner of Police (southern range) Amod Kanth said today: ``We are in touch with at least two of Manu's group. They have given us some information about him.But it would be premature to elaborate.'' Kanth, however, was unwilling to confirm Tony's role. Sources say Tony who was an old friend of Manu's, hailed from Chandigarh and had only recently moved to Delhi. Investigators questioned him at the South Delhi police headquarters today, but have not arrested him so far.

Sources say that Tony had given ``some idea about the circumstances leading to the shooting''. He has also revealed possible addresses where Manu Sharma could be in hiding.

Kanth added that D P Yadav's son Vikas Yadav had been summoned because several patrons at Qutab Colonnade recall spotting him. ``We are sure he has visited the place earlier. But not whether he was accompanying Manu that night.''

Vikas is currently in Moradabad with his father, the police say. Yadav senior says that Vikas was with him on Thursday night too, and the allegations against his son ``were politically motivated''.

Now five days since the incident at Qutab Colonnade, the police are still not sure whether ManuSharma is in Noida, or in Madhya Pradesh, or even in Kathmandu, Nepal. Teams of investigators have rushed to all these places. Several more are still checking out addresses of his relatives and friends in Delhi, Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana.

Also, international airports have been alerted to prevent Manu from leaving the country. His photographs and details of his passport have also been circulated among immigration officials.

Amod Kanth said the police had today established that Manu had a gun licence, a passport the police claim to have got the number and credit cards. ``We are, however, yet to ascertain whether the licence was valid for the .22 pistol he was carrying on Thursday night. It may be an illegal weapon. We are checking the banks, from where his credit cards were issued, to find whether he had used them, and from where, after Thursday.''

Investigators also questioned Manu's father former Union Minister Vinod Sharma once again today. ``He still says he has no clue about his son'swhereabouts. Neither has he given any valid explanation about his presence in Delhi for two days after the murder.'' According to Kanth, Vinod Sharma was in Delhi on Friday and Saturday, but did not respond to summons in his name. He returned to Chandigarh and met the Delhi Police in the Capital only on Monday.

Today, investigators had a ``long discussion'' with Joint Commissioner of Police (New Delhi range) Y S Dadwal regarding his visit to Qutab Colonnade on Thursday night. Dadwal reportedly reiterated that he was on a private visit, was there for only 20 minutes, did not eat or drink anything and left much before the shooting.

Investigators also questioned Malini Ramani, daughter of Bina Ramani, for over six hours today. Malini was reportedly the last person to talk to Jessica before she was killed and also to hear the conversation between the model and Manu.

Kanth, however, said once again today that Bina Ramani and Malini, key witnesses in the case, were ``not cooperating and were trying to misleadthe police''. He said it had now been conclusively established that there was no ``private party'' as claimed by them and the liquor was being served illegally inside the restaurant.