THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, Feb 12: The life sentences of four men found guilty of killing journalist Soumya Vishwanathan in 2008 were suspended by the Delhi High Court on Monday.
Convicted parties Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Ajay Kumar, and Baljeet Malik were granted bail by a Division Bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Girish Kathpalia, noting that they had been incarcerated for almost 14 years.
While their appeal against the case’s conviction and sentence is being handled by the High Court, their life sentence will remain suspended.
The four accused were sentenced to life imprisonment for Soumya Vishwanathan’s murder by Delhi’s Saket Court on November 24, 2023, following their conviction on October 18.
Ajay Sethi, another accused, received a three-year prison sentence.
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Vishwanathan murdered in 2008
Vishwanathan, a journalist employed by India Today, was discovered deceased in her car in Vasant Kunj in September 2008.
Forensic findings revealed that her demise was caused by a gunshot wound to her head. According to the police, Vishwanathan was pursued and shot while returning home late at night from her workplace.
A pivotal moment in the investigation occurred in March 2009, when the police apprehended Ravi Kapoor and Amit Shukla during their investigation into a separate case.
They confessed to the murder in the disclosure statements.
Were found guilty under IPC and MCOCA sections
Kapoor, Shukla, Kumar, and Malik were convicted by the trial court of killing Vishwanathan. Section 34 (offence done with common intention) and Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) were the grounds for their conviction.
The four were also deemed guilty under Section 3(1)(i) of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
At the same time, Sethi was found guilty of committing crimes under Section 411 (related to dishonestly receiving stolen property) of the IPC, along with Section 3(2) and 3(5) of MCOCA.
