ANI

New Delhi, Mar 18: Former Haryana cadre IPS officer R K Sharma and three others were found guilty in the Shivani Bhatnagar murder case on Tuesday.

Besides Sharma, Pradeep Sharma, Satya Prakash and Sri Bhagwan were the others convicted. The court acquitted Ved Prakash Sharma and Ved alias Kalu.

The quantum of sentence will be pronounced on March 20.

It took the police over three years to crack the case. The trial has seen four judges and 209 witnesses.

Pradeep Sharma has been charged with inflicting fatal injuries on the victim, four others, apart from R K Sharma, allegedly provided him support to commit the crime.

The prosecution has charged all with murder and conspiracy. Pradeep has additionally been charged with theft of the victim's gold chain and camera after the murder.

According to the police, R K Sharma conspired to have Shivani killed after she threatened to expose him. The two allegedly had a relationship and during his stint as an officer on special duty (OSD) in the Prime Minister's Office in 1997, the IPS officer had "leaked" some secret documents to Shivani.

In his defence, R K Sharma denied having had any affair with Shivani, as alleged by the prosecution. He also denied having leaked any sensitive information to the journalist.

Shivani, a journalist with the Indian Express, was found murdered at her East Delhi apartment on January 23, 1999.

Following is the chronology of events in Shivani Bhatnagar murder case:

* January 23 1999: Shivani Bhatnagar, an Indian Express journalist, murdered at her East Delhi apartment.

* July 23 2002: Police arrest Sri Bhagwan, son of a former Haryana police officer, who had worked under IPS officer Ravi Kant Sharma.

* August 2 2002: Delhi Police raids R K Sharma's residence at Panchkula in Haryana but is unable to apprehend him. Pradeep Sharma, another alleged conspirator, arrested.

* August 6 2002: Panchkula court rejects R K Sharma's interim bail application .

* August 7 2002: Delhi Police releases R K Sharma's picture and declares a reward of Rs 50,000.

* August 8 2002: R K Sharma's wife Madhu alleges involvement of "an influential person," demands CBI probe.

* August 12 2002: Delhi police gets forensic report on the handwriting and finger prints of one of accused Pradeep Sharma. R K Sharma files bail plea in a Delhi court.

* August 13 2002: R K Sharma's bail plea rejected by a Delhi session's court.

* August 15 2002: R K Sharma's wife Madhu alleges involvement of BJP leader Pramod Mahajan in Shivani's murder. Mahajan refutes allegations and says he shared a purely professional relationship with Shivani.

* August 16 2002: Delhi Police gives clean chit to Pramod Mahajan.

* August 17 2002: Police confirm arrest of co-accused Satya Prakash in the case.

* August 18 2002: Another accused, Ved Prakash Sharma, picked up by police.

August 23 2002: R K Sharma suspended from service.

* September 27 2002: R K Sharma surrenders in Ambala.

* September 28 2002: R K Sharma sent to police custody.

* October 8 2002: Police claim R K Sharma has confessed killing Shivani; Sharma's counsel files contempt application against the police.

* October 25 2002: Police file chargesheet in Shivani murder case, charging R K Sharma for her murder and alleged he had given her classified government documents.

* January 4 2003: Case committed for sessions trial.

* March 3 2003: Court frames charges against Sharma and other five accused.

* March 20 2003: Trial commences.

* January 23 2005: Shivani case sent to fast-track court.

* July 21 2006: Supreme Court stays Delhi High Court and trail court order directing the police to furnish its record of case diaries to R K Sharma.

* October 9 2007: Prosecution claims Shivani intended to expose R K Sharma for offences under the Official Secrets Act.

* November 15 2007: Prosecution ends arguments.

* November 23 2007: R K Sharma terms telephone call records "fabricated."

* December 4 2007: R K Sharma says his friendly relationship with Shivani was not a "secret affair."

* February 29 2007: Final arguments end.

* March 5 2008: Court reserves its verdict in the case.

* March 18 2008: Court convicts suspended IGP R K Sharma along with three other accused for conspiracy to kill Shivani.