Brit-Indian honeymooner denies link to 2007 killing in South Africa
London, Dec 12 : Shrien Dewani, the Brit-Indian millionaire who has been arrested on suspicion of having his wife killed during their honeymoon in Cape Town, has denied doubts raised by South Africa's police chief that he was involved in another murder three years back.
South African national commissioner general Bheki Cele reportedly said police were investigating a link between Dewani and the 2007 murder of Dr Pox Raghavjee, who died during a carjacking in King William's Town, Eastern Cape, but the case reportedly remains open.
He also said that Dewani, from Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, met the doctor's widow Heather Raghavjee in South Africa after the murder, The Telegraph reports.
"The investigation is ongoing even if it means linking Mr Dewani to other cases. There are new revelations about the Eastern Cape, so let's see what's going on," the paper quoted General Cele's spokesman, as saying.
However Dewani's spokesman said that the latest claim a 'fabrication', and added that the businessman has become the victim of a politically-motivated smear to protect South Africa's tourism industry.
"The South African police are orchestrating a politically-motivated smear campaign to protect their tourism industry. It's a total fabrication. How flimsy and ridiculous this whole thing is. If it wasn't so tragic it would be a farce, a comedy," Max Clifford said.
Clifford also stressed that Raghavjee had never met Dewani prior to the honeymoon murder, and had made the journey to Cape Town only at the request of her daughter-in-law, Alvita Raghavjee, who lives in the Bristol area and knows the Dewani family.
Dewani and his wife Anni were two weeks into their Cape Town honeymoon when the taxi they were in was hijacked in the Khayelitsha township by two men armed with guns on November 13
He also said that Dewani, from Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, met the doctor's widow Heather Raghavjee in South Africa after the murder, The Telegraph reports.
"The investigation is ongoing even if it means linking Mr Dewani to other cases. There are new revelations about the Eastern Cape, so let's see what's going on," the paper quoted General Cele's spokesman, as saying.
However Dewani's spokesman said that the latest claim a 'fabrication', and added that the businessman has become the victim of a politically-motivated smear to protect South Africa's tourism industry.
"The South African police are orchestrating a politically-motivated smear campaign to protect their tourism industry. It's a total fabrication. How flimsy and ridiculous this whole thing is. If it wasn't so tragic it would be a farce, a comedy," Max Clifford said.
Clifford also stressed that Raghavjee had never met Dewani prior to the honeymoon murder, and had made the journey to Cape Town only at the request of her daughter-in-law, Alvita Raghavjee, who lives in the Bristol area and knows the Dewani family.
Dewani and his wife Anni were two weeks into their Cape Town honeymoon when the taxi they were in was hijacked in the Khayelitsha township by two men armed with guns on November 13
