On Saturday, Four men accused in the Murder Case of TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan were sentenced to life imprisonment by Delhi Court after more than15 years, the incident occurred in 2008.
Four convicted individuals, Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik, and Ajay Kumar, received life sentences, with fines ₹1.25 lakh each imposed by Saket Court’s Additional Sessions Judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey. He also handed a three-year simple imprisonment to the fifth convict, Ajay Sethi and a fine of ₹7.25 lakh. A detailed order on sentencing is pending.
On October 18, the court found Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik, Ajay Kumar, and Ajay Sethi guilty. The life sentence recipients were convicted under IPC Section 302 (murder) and 34 (common intention), along with MCOCA provisions invoked by Delhi Police 2009 for organised crime leading to a person's death. Ajay Sethi faced convictions under IPC Section 411 and MCOCA for involvement in organised crime. All the convicts have been in custody since March 2009.
Photo: The Times of India
Soumya Vishwanathan, a journalist with India Today, Delhi-based Media Company was fatally shot on September 30, 2008, in Delhi’s Vasant Kunj area, while driving home from work late at night. The Delhi Police initially attributed the motive for Soumya Vishwanathan's murder to robbery on Nelson Mandela Marg in south Delhi.
The breakthrough in the case occurred when the police recovered the weapon used in the killing of IT executive Jigisha Ghosh. Later revelations led to the conviction of the four culprits. The prolonged legal process, a 13 year long, concluded with the prosecution presenting evidence on May 17, 2023.
In August 2016, the trial court imposed death penalties on Kapoor and Shukla and sentenced Malik to life imprisonment in the Jigisha Ghosh murder case. However, in 2018, the Delhi High Court reduced Kapoor and Shukla's death sentences to life imprisonment while maintaining Malik's life imprisonment.
Soumya’s Mother expressed her Sentiments
Madhavi Vishwanathan, the mother of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan, responded to the court's decision to sentence her daughter's four murderers to life imprisonment, expressing, "In a way, we are also enduring a life imprisonment."
Photo:HW News
Madhavi, expressed mixed sentiments, stating, "I am not satisfied, but I can say it is a good thing... A message has been given to society that you have to face consequences for what you do."
During the court proceedings, when asked if she wanted to say something, Madhavi Vishwanathan asserted, "Justice must be done."
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