Introduction

The Tandoor Murder Case, one of the most gruesome and high-profile crimes in India, occurred in 1995 in Delhi. This brutal case shocked the nation, as it involved a political figure, a secret affair, and the horrifying murder of a young woman whose body was partially burned in a restaurant's tandoor oven. The crime showcased the depths of jealousy and betrayal, leaving an unforgettable scar on the Indian judicial and political landscape.

Background of the Criminal

Sushil Sharma, the main perpetrator of the crime, was a rising politician and a member of the Congress party at the time of the murder. Born in Rajasthan, Sharma had a promising career in politics. He held the position of president of the Delhi Youth Congress and was seen as a young leader with potential. However, beneath the surface of his political ambition lay a volatile personality prone to jealousy and possessiveness, especially in his marriage to Naina Sahni.

Background of the Victim

Naina Sahni, the victim, was Sharma's wife and a former Congress worker herself. She was an educated and independent woman who reportedly had ambitions of her own. Her marriage to Sharma, however, was strained due to Sushil's possessive nature and his growing suspicions of her infidelity. Naina allegedly maintained an affair with a former classmate, which aggravated the already tense relationship between her and Sharma. Her tragic fate was sealed when jealousy and anger consumed Sushil, leading him to commit an unthinkable act of violence.

The Crime

On the night of July 2, 1995, Sushil Sharma's suspicions about his wife's infidelity came to a head. After discovering Naina talking on the phone and believing she was speaking to her alleged lover, Sharma flew into a fit of rage. In their Ashok Vihar apartment, Sharma fatally shot Naina, killing her instantly. Desperate to dispose of the evidence, he transported her body to the restaurant Bagiya, located in the Ashok Yatri Niwas hotel, which was owned by one of his acquaintances. There, he attempted to burn her body in a large tandoor oven used for cooking, believing it would erase all traces of his crime.

Location of the Crime

The crime took place at two main locations:

The Apartment: Naina Sahni was murdered in the couple's residence in Ashok Vihar, Delhi.The Bagiya Restaurant: After killing Naina, Sharma transported her body to the Bagiya restaurant, located in the Ashok Yatri Niwas hotel in Connaught Place, New Delhi, where he attempted to burn her body in the restaurant's tandoor oven.Timeline of the CrimeJuly 2, 1995: Sushil Sharma shot his wife, Naina Sahni, in their apartment.Later that Night: Sharma transported her body to the Bagiya restaurant and, with the help of the restaurant manager, tried to dispose of the body by burning it in the tandoor oven.July 3, 1995: A police patrol team noticed smoke and unusual activity at the restaurant late at night and decided to investigate. Upon inspection, they discovered the charred remains of a human body in the tandoor.Aftermath

The discovery of Naina Sahni's partially burned body sent shockwaves throughout India. The media quickly dubbed it the "Tandoor Murder Case," and it became one of the most talked-about criminal cases in the country. Public outrage was immense, especially as Sushil Sharma was a politician, and the case highlighted the misuse of power and privilege in society.

The Clues

The crime came to light when police officers, patrolling the area near the restaurant, saw smoke coming from the tandoor oven late at night. When they questioned the restaurant manager, he appeared nervous, raising the officers' suspicions. Upon inspecting the oven, they discovered human remains. Investigators also found that Sharma had been in the area that night and linked him to the crime scene.

Forensic analysis confirmed that the remains belonged to Naina Sahni, and bullet wounds on the body revealed that she had been shot before being burned. The restaurant manager's confession and witness testimonies further corroborated the sequence of events, leading investigators to focus on Sushil Sharma as the prime suspect.

The Arrest

Sushil Sharma initially fled after the crime was discovered, fearing arrest and the subsequent fallout from the scandal. However, he was apprehended five days later, on July 7, 1995, in Bangalore, where he had been hiding. His arrest sparked massive media coverage, and the gruesome nature of the crime made it a sensational case that dominated headlines for months.

The Trial and Punishment

The trial of Sushil Sharma was long and complex, lasting for several years. In 2003, after eight years of legal proceedings, Sharma was convicted of murdering his wife, Naina Sahni, and was sentenced to death by the Delhi High Court. The case went through several appeals, and in 2007, the Supreme Court of India upheld the death sentence. However, in a subsequent hearing in 2013, the Supreme Court commuted Sushil Sharma's death sentence to life imprisonment, citing mitigating factors, including his clean criminal record prior to the murder.