Click to play videoNew Delhi: The Delhi High Court has given Santosh Kumar Singh the death sentence for raping and murdering Priyadarshini Mattoo.
The court's judgement has come has a victory for the friends and family of Mattoo who had been fighting this legal battle for the last 10 years.
“Finally I have got justice. I hope no other father will have to meet the same fate as me. This should act as a deterrent for future criminals. My daughter's soul will finally rest in peace. I hope the judgement will bring the focus back on Nitish Katara and Jessica Lall cases. They should also get the justice in the same manner, “Priyadarshini Mattoo’s father Chaman Lal Mattoo says.
Santosh had already been convicted for raping and murdering 23-year-old Law graduate Priyadarshini Matoo. It’s a verdict, which has come as a huge relief for Priyadarshini's father Chaman Lal Mattoo who kept on fighting despite getting little support.
In 1999, Santosh had been acquitted by the lower courts on grounds of doubt. But today all those who felt that wronged then came together to celebrate their victory.
CBI director Vijay Shanker says, “Its a satisfying day for us. Justice may have been delayed.''
Santosh's lawyers argued that he should not be given the death sentence since he had a 2-year-old child, a retarded brother and aged parents. But the defence had no takers.
Mattoo's family lawyer B L Wali said that the defence had argued for life imprisonment for Santosh Kumar Singh claiming that the injuries observed on Priyadarshini's body were not very grave.
The High Court in its order said: “Santosh Kumar Singh's crime was unpardonable. He was a lawyer himself and the son of a senior police officer. Yet Santosh not only harassed Priyadarshini Mattoo time and again but also went back on the written assurances and apologies that he had given to Delhi Police promising that he would mend his ways. Given his past conduct the highest capital punishment possible is what Santosh Kumar Singh deserves."
The death sentence might have been pronounced but there is a ray of hope still for Santosh Kumar Singh. The death sentence has to be ratified by the Supreme Court.
The trial court will then set a date fore Santosh's hanging. And till then Santosh and his family will be hopeful that the SC will actually agree that what the trial court said and not the guilty pronouncement made by the High Court.
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