From Chennai he fled to Bangalore where he finally surrendered before police.

Both Sharma and the restaurant owner Kumar pleaded for pardon. The trials went on and in August 2000, the case came to an halt after the transfer of Additional Sessions Judge G P Thareja, who was hearing the case, from criminal to civil court. Sharma's counsel filed a plea to transfer the case to Thareja as he had almost completed hearing of entire case. The plea was approved.