In a significant development, a Delhi court has delivered justice in the long-pending case of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan’s murder in 2008. Five individuals have been convicted in this heinous crime, which shocked the nation. Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljit Mallick, and Akshay Kumar were found guilty of both murder and robbery, while the fifth accused, Ajay Sethi, was held accountable for aiding the others.
Soumya Vishwanathan, a 25-year-old journalist with Headlines Today, lost her life on September 30, 2008, when she was brutally murdered while returning from work in Delhi’s Vasant Vihar. Her body was discovered in her car, having suffered a fatal gunshot wound.
Speaking to the media after the verdict, Soumya’s mother expressed her relief, stating, “We lost our daughter, but this will act as a deterrent for others.” She further emphasized her desire for the convicts to receive life imprisonment as a just punishment for their actions.
The breakthrough in this case came during the investigation of another murder, that of IT executive Jigisha Ghose, who was found dead in Faridabad a few months after Soumya’s tragic death. The accused individuals, Kapoor, Shukla, and Malik, had already been arrested in connection with Jigisha Ghose’s murder. However, their links to the Vasant Vihar murder case were uncovered during police questioning, leading to the arrest of two additional suspects.
In the 620-page chargesheet filed in 2009, Delhi Police cited robbery as the motive behind Soumya Vishwanathan’s murder. The accused faced multiple charges, including murder, destruction of evidence, forgery, and criminal conspiracy, with the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) also invoked against them.
MCOCA, originally enacted in Mumbai, was extended to Delhi in 2002 by the Union Home Ministry, signifying the seriousness of organized crime. This verdict serves as a significant step in ensuring justice for Soumya Vishwanathan and her family while sending a powerful message against heinous crimes.
Team Profile
- News Writer
- Harshit Tokas is a Political Science and International Affairs Post-Graduate with a passion for understanding and analyzing complex political landscapes. Skilled in research, data analysis, and policy development. Eager to contribute his knowledge and insights to drive positive change.
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