R.K. Anand offers apology

NEW DELHI - Advocate R.K. Anand Tuesday offered an “unqualified and unequivocal” apology in the Supreme Court for his action to manipulate and derail the trial in the BMW hit-and-run case involving former navy chief S.M. Nanda’s grandson Sanjeev Nanda.

The apex court bench of Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice Aftab Alam said that the apology of Anand would be considered when court holds hearing on its notice as to why Anand’s sentence should not be increased.

Anand’s petition challenging his conviction by the Delhi High Court for his alleged attempt to influence controversial prosecution witness Sunil Kulkarni in the case was dismissed by the apex court in July 2009.

The apex court upheld Anand’s conviction and the stripping off of his senior advocate status for contempt of court.

The high court punished both Anand and Special Public Prosecutor I.U. Khan in the case.

While dismissing his plea, the apex court issued notice as to why the sentence should not be enhanced. While Anand’s plea was dismissed, the plea of Khan was accepted by the apex court.

Anand was exposed by a news channel in a sting operation.

Sanjeev Nanda was convicted of killing six people while he was driving his BMW in an inebriated condition in Lodhi Colony area of south Delhi Jan 10, 1999.

Appearing for Anand, senior counsel M.R. Kalla said that his client was offering apology at the very outset of the hearing. He said that Anand has already suffered a lot and lost his esteem in public life.

The court was told Anand’s practice had been wrecked and his public standing too had been dented.