Today(on 22th April),Supreme Court reviews plea against interim release of Soumya Viswanathan’s killers, seeks responses from Delhi government and convicts.
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NEW DELHI: Today(on 22nd April),The Supreme Court has acknowledged a petition contesting the interim release of four convicts involved in the 2008 Soumya Viswanathan murder case. The apex court has requested a response from both the Delhi government and the convicts, scheduling a hearing in four weeks. The appeal was lodged by the deceased journalist’s mother against a recent Delhi High Court decision, which temporarily suspended the life sentence of the four convicted individuals for the murder.
The convicts, whose life sentences have been temporarily put on hold, are currently out on bail as they await the final decision on their appeals against conviction. The verdict by the Saket Court in Delhi on November 24, 2023, had sentenced the four accused to life imprisonment for their involvement in the murder of Soumya Viswanathan.
Soumya Viswanathan, a dedicated journalist employed with India Today, tragically lost her life in September 2008. Her lifeless body was discovered in her car in Vasant Kunj. The forensic reports indicated that her untimely demise was caused by a fatal gunshot wound to her head. According to the police investigation, it was revealed that Vishwanathan was returning home late at night from her office when she was relentlessly pursued and shot.
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In March 2009, Ravi Kapoor and Amit Shukla were apprehended by the police regarding a separate criminal incident. During subsequent investigations, both confessed to their roles in the murder of Soumya Viswanathan. After thorough examination of evidence and testimonies, the trial court convicted Kapoor, Shukla, along with Kumar and Malik, under Sections 302 (murder) and 34 (offence committed with common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for Viswanathan’s murder.
Furthermore, all four individuals were also found guilty under Section 3(1)(i) of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), highlighting the organized nature of the crime and the severity of their actions.
The recent interim bail granted to the four convicts by the Delhi High Court has ignited controversy and elicited concerns from the public and the victim’s family. Soumya Viswanathan’s mother staunchly believes that justice has not been upheld, advocating against allowing the perpetrators to remain at liberty while their appeals are pending.
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