4 Convicts In Journalist Soumya Vishwanathan Case Seek HC Relief

The Delhi High Court has summoned a response from the police in response to appeals filed by Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljit Singh Malik, and Ajay Kumar, challenging their conviction and life sentences in the case of the murder of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan.

The bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain issued notices, directing the authorities to also respond to the convicts' interim application seeking the suspension of their sentence. The court has slated the application for a hearing for February 12, marking a crucial juncture in a case that has gripped public attention.

Background Of Previous Court Verdicts 

The accused, namely Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Ajay Kumar, and Baljeet Malik, were found guilty on October 18 under the provisions of the MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act). On November 24, Justice Ravindra Kumar Pandey reserved the verdict after detailed arguments. During the arguments, the public prosecutor told the court that apart from the convict Amit Shukla, the DLSA had given an "unsatisfactory" report of conduct in jail. "However, a report from the jail superintendent has shown 'unsatisfactory conduct' by three of the five convicts and multiple penalties on them. We don't know how the DLSA report and jail report are different," the public prosecutor said, according to Hindustan Times.

Four Accused Found Guilty

On October 18, Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Ajay Kumar, and Baljeet Malik were found guilty by the MCOCA. As reported by News18, during the verdict announcement, the court asserted that there is no doubt that the accused individuals had the intention to rob Saumya Vishwanathan before her murder.

The court has requested that the state submit an affidavit regarding the socio-economic backgrounds of the accused. Notably, Ajay Sethi did not face a murder charge because he had stolen the vehicle and was involved in a criminal syndicate.

Additional Sessions Judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey had postponed delivering the judgment in the case to October 13 after both the defence and prosecution had completed their arguments.

The police had asserted that the motive behind the killing of the journalist was robbery. The five accused were apprehended for her murder and have been in custody since March 2009.

The authorities had applied the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) against the accused. In 2019, Baljeet Malik filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, seeking a speedy trial. The high court then requested a report from the trial court regarding the nearly decade-long delay in concluding the trial since the charge sheet was filed.

The trial court explained to the high court that the delay was primarily due to the unavailability of prosecution witnesses and the time taken for the appointment of a special public prosecutor.

In August 2016, the trial court sentenced Ravi Kapoor and Amit Shukla to death and handed a life term to Baljeet Malik in the Jigisha Ghosh murder case. However, in January 2018, the high court commuted the death sentences of Kapoor and Shukla to life imprisonment while upholding Malik's life sentence.

Now again, appeals filed by the four convicts raise compelling questions about the integrity of the initial investigation, the sufficiency of evidence, and the overall fairness of the trial. Legal experts following the case closely suggest that the defense is likely to challenge key aspects of the prosecution's case, seeking to unveil potential flaws and inconsistencies.

Soumya Vishwanathan Murder Case

Saumya Vishwanathan was a 25-year-old journalist working with the Indian news channel Headlines Today (now known as India Today TV). She was murdered in the early hours of September 30, 2008, while driving home after a late-night shift.

The incident took place in Delhi's Vasant Kunj area. Soumya Vishwanathan was found dead in her car, which had veered off the road and crashed into a divider. She had been shot multiple times.

The case gained significant attention due to Saumya Vishwanathan's profession and the circumstances of her murder. It raised concerns about the safety of women working late-night shifts, particularly in the media industry.