Mattoo case: What went wrong

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New Delhi: Priyadarshini Mattoo's friends were shell shocked when they read the morning newspapers on January 24, 1996. Their friend, a 23-year-old law graduate, was brutally raped and murdered. The vivacious smile and the zeal towards life brutally cut short.

"She had a zest for life. She had the courage to stand up and fight for what is right," Priyadarshini's friend, Indu Jalali said.

Priyadarshini was allegedly murdered by her college senior Santosh Singh. She had complained in 1995 that Santosh, son of senior police officer JP Singh, was stalking and harassing her.

On the morning of January 23, Santosh entered Priyadarshini's uncle's house, in South Delhi. He had claimed that he come to strike a compromise with her over the police case.

Santosh then allegedly raped Priyadarshini and strangulated her with an electric wire before battering her face with his helmet.

Priyadarshini's body was found with 14 injuries.

The case went into trial and was soon handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

But all hopes of the Mattoo family were dashed when on December 3, 1999 the lower court set Santosh Singh free.

The only solace for the family was the judge’s observation that he knew that Santosh was the man who had committed the crime but was forced to acquit him due to lack of evidence, giving him the benefit of doubt.

The CBI appealed against the judgement in 2000 but till date not a single hearing has taken place and Priyadarshini's 70-year-old father continues his quest for justice.

(Express your solidarity with Priyadarshini, join CNN-IBN at the rally at India Gate lawns in New Delhi on Sunday at 1430 hours IST)