Journalist Soumya Vishwanathan Murder: 2 Convicts Moves Delhi HC Challenging Life Sentence

The two convicts in the Saumya Vishwanathan murder case have appealed to the Delhi High Court, challenging the judgment and sentence in the 2008 killing of journalist Saumya Vishwanathan. Alongside two others, they were convicted for murder and running a crime syndicate, with the court ordering consecutive life sentences.

Convicts Baljeet Singh Malik and Amit Shukla, through their advocate Amit Kumar, have filed appeals contesting the October 18, 2023 judgment and sentence for offenses under section 302/34 IPC read with Section 3(1)(I) of the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act, 1999. They are also seeking the suspension of the sentence during the appeals’ pendency. The FIR in this case was registered under section 302 IPC at Police Station Vasant Kunj in 2008.

The trial court convicted Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Singh Malik, Ajay Kumar, and Ajay Sethi. The Saket Court, in an Order on Sentence dated November 25, 2023, sentenced the convicts to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs. 25,000 for the offense under section 302 of IPC. Baljeet Singh Malik additionally received a life sentence and a fine of Rs. 1,00,000 for the offense under section 3(1)(i) of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999. If the total fine of Rs. 1,25,000 is not paid, he faces six months of simple imprisonment.

The court ordered that, if paid, a sum of Rs. 1,20,000 be released as compensation to the deceased/victim’s parents and Rs. 4,000 be deposited to the State as litigation expenses, following the guidelines of the judgment titled “‘Karan Verma Vs. State of NCT of Delhi.” An additional Rs. 1000 is to be deposited as a fine to the State.

On October 18, 2023, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Ravindra Kumar Pandey, while convicting the accused persons, held that they were involved in criminal activities, constituting an organized crime syndicate. The court stated that the prosecution had proved, beyond reasonable doubt, the charges under section 3(1)(i) of the MCOC Act against the accused. The court also convicted them for the offense of murder, affirming that they had murdered Saumya Vishwanathan with the intention to rob her on September 30, 2008.

The court further stated that Ajay Sethi facilitated the organized crime syndicate and intentionally retained the offending car. He was convicted under section 3(2) and section 3(5) of the MCOC Act, 1999. The prosecution successfully proved that Ajay Sethi abetted or facilitated organized crime and held property obtained from the proceeds of the crime.

The prosecution’s case detailed the events of September 30, 2008, where the accused persons chased and murdered Saumya Vishwanathan with the intention to rob her. The court also considered the accused’s involvement in other criminal activities, leading to their convictions in the Jigisha Ghosh murder case.