How the Delhi police botched up the case in 48 hours
SMEETA MISHRA PANDEY

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 8: The Delhi police took less than 48 hours to `botch up' the Priyadarshini Mattoo case from 5.30 pm on January 23, 1996 to January 25, 1996. Those were the hours the case remained with them before it was transferred to the (CBI). It was when the Delhi police either ``tampered'' with (as ASJ G.P Thareja pointed out in the judgment) or held back evidence.

January 23, 1996

What the police did: Investigating officer Lalit Mohan, who was pulled up by judge Thareja for ``being a liar and fabricating evidence,'' told Express Newsline: ``I reached the spot (B-10/7098, Vasant Kunj) after receiving a call at the police station on January 23. Though I was the first officer to reach the spot, several senior officers followed.''

Inspector Mohan found Mattoo's body lying amidst pieces of broken glass and blood stains. A piece of electric wire cut from a heat convector was lying nearby. The inspector collected the samples of hair and blood from the room with assistance froma team of Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory.

What they did not do: Mohan did not bother to take down the signatures of the members of the expert team, as stated in the judgment. Priyadarshini's mother had told the police that she suspected Santosh Kumar Singh. However, the investigating officer did not take him into custody or keep him under observation.

What the police did: Inspector Mohan sent the body to the hospital following which he interrogated the neighbours. ``I spoke to the neighbours to find out whether any of them had seen anybody around the house,'' he says. Mohan questioned the servant Virender Prasad on the night of the murder. Mohan returned to register a case of murder .

What they did not do: He did not record these interrogations in the case dairy, as pointed out by ASJ Thareja. Moreover, though he spoke to the crucial witness Kuppuswamy (neighbour who claimed to have seen the accused hanging around Matto's home that evening), the statement was recorded onJanuary 25, after the case had been transferred to the CBI.

January 24, 1996

What the police did: Around 3 a.m., in the early hours of January 24, 1996, Mohan interrogated the accused Santosh Kumar Singh. The investigating officer noticed there was ``tenderness on the right hand of the accused.''

What they did not do: A medical examination, on the same night, proved that the injury was ``grievous in nature and caused by a blunt object.'' Nail scrapping and hair samples of the accused were taken. After taking the samples, the accused was let free. Mohan directed him to visit the police station on January 25.

January 25, 1996

What the police did: The post-mortem was conducted. The cause of death was identified as strangulation. As to why the post-mortem was conducted a day later, Mohan explained today: ``I don't recollect the exact reason. But I think the deceased's brother was supposed to come from USA. The family had requested us to conduct the post-mortem onlyafter the brother arrived.'' It was after the post-mortem was conducted on January 25, that Mohan arrested the accused.

What they did not do: Inspector Mohan did not prepare a personal search memo of the accused, as is the rule.

When they did what they were not supposed to do: Even after the case was transferred, the investigating officer dropped in at the Mattoo residence and discovered a greeting card apparently sent by the accused. ``What was Mohan doing in the Mattoo home when the case was with the CBI?'' says the judge. Mohan has no answer to that. ``I am not authorised to comment.''

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