Pravin Mahajan, who has been charged with the murder of his brother, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pramod Mahajan, dropped a bombshell in the trial court when he leveled sensational allegations against Pramod. The judge ordered that Mahajan's testimony, both as a witness and as an accused, be recorded in-camera.
The 46-year-old Pravin made allegations about the late BJP leader's character while narrating his version of the sequence of events on the second day of his testimony.
At that stage, the prosecution quickly cut him short, seeking a direction from the court that his further statements be recorded in-camera.
Prosecution lawyer Niteen Pradhan said "Pravin's statements could be defamatory and affect the people involved. Pramod was the fatherly figure of the family and the accused wants to say something about Pramod's character."
He added that it would not be proper to conduct the trial in the open court as the 'public gaze' was not going to help anyone. However, defence counsel Harshad Ponda told the court that it was important to record what Praveen wanted to say as there were many facts that needed to be placed on record.
Pravin had earlier said that he had gone to Pramod's house on April 22 last year at 7.30 am. Pramod was waiting for him in the passage outside the door and they went into his living room together, said Pravin.
According to Pravin, only he and Pramod were talking and none of the witnesses examined by this court were present then, Ponda told the court.
The court, while ordering that Pravin's statement be recorded in-camera, added that the next defence witness will depose in open court.
Before the court drama began, Pravin told the judge that though the pistol in the muddemaal (seized material) was his, he had no idea about the bullets that were fired from it.
He also denied any knowledge about the empty bullet shells that were found at the scene of crime.
When asked about a threatening message retrieved from Pramod's cellphone, which had been sent from Parvin's phone, he said, "I don't know."
Earlier, Pravin had admitted going to the Worli police station with the pistol, but he denied shooting his brother at the latter's residence on April 22 last year.
Pravin's wife Sarangi and his children Kapil and Vrushali were present in court to watch his deposition.
Pramod's family members were not present in court. However, Pramod's daughter Poonam earlier declared at a public function that she had full faith in the judiciary.
When asked to repeat a favourite saying used by her father, on the occasion of the deceased leader's birthday today, Poonam said, "No defeat is final till you stop fighting."
