Almost 15 years after the death of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan, the Delhi court held four men guilty of murder and other offenses. This verdict came after almost 300 hearings, and 97 witnesses were examined. Saket District Court has awarded life imprisonment to the four convicts, while the fifth convict, Ajay Sethi, received a three-year jail sentence. The court has rejected the request for a death sentence.
The 25-year-old journalist Saumya Vishwanathan was killed in her car near Nelson Mandela Marg in South Delhi. At that time, Saumya was working for the India Today Group.
Who was Soumya Vishwanathan?
Soumya Vishwanathan was a 25-year-old television journalist working for India Today. She was the only child of her parents. Saumya was killed on September 30, 2008, and ever since, her father Vishwanathan, and mother Madhavi, who hails from Kerala, have been fighting to bring justice to their daughter.
Judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey will announce the quantum sentence next week. Saumya’s mother told the media that, “We’ve lost our daughter, but this (verdict) will act as a deterrent for others as well.” When Saumya’s mother was asked about the quantum sentence, she said, “Life imprisonment.”
Why was Soumya Vishwanathan got Killed?
The entire nation was shocked by the Saumya Vishwanthan matter. On September 30, 2008, Saumya was slain in her car on her way home from work. Her body was discovered in the car with a bullet mark on her forehead, and it was said that she was shot while attempting to escape the robbers.
Charges Against the Accused
Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik, Ajay Kumar, and Ajay Sethi were the main accused in the case. As per the Delhi court’s verdict Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik, and Ajay Kumar were guilty of murder and committing organized crime resulting in the death of a person under the MCOCA.
Whereas, the fifth man, Ajay Sethi, was convicted of receiving stolen property and conspiring to abet, aid in, or knowingly facilitate organized crime under the MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act).
How is Soumya Vishwanathan’s case related to Jigisha Ghosh?
Jigisha Ghosh and Saumya Vishwanathan were killed by the same gang. In 2016, Baljeet Malik, Ravi Kapoor, and Amit Shukla were found guilty of killing Jigisha Ghosh; two of them received death sentences. The Delhi High Court upheld Malik’s life sentence in the murder of Ghosh but lowered the death sentences of Ravi Kapoor and Amit Shukla to life in prison in 2017.
Soumya Vishwananthan FAQs
A. Soumya Vishwanathan was killed on September 30, 2008.
A. Saumya Vishwanathan was 25 years old at the time of her death.
A. Saumya Vishwanathan was killed by Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik, Ajay Kumar, and Ajay Sethi.
A. Saumya was the only daughter of her parents and ever since she got killed, her father Vishwanathan, and mother Madhavi, have been fighting to bring justice to their daughter.
A. Jigisha Ghosh and Soumya Vishwanathan were killed by the same gang.
