The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Delhi Government and the four convicts in the murder case of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan, following a petition filed by Soumya’s mother challenging the bail granted to them. The Delhi High Court had earlier suspended the life sentences of the convicts, granting them bail pending the disposal of their appeals.
In a case that has captured national attention, Soumya Vishwanathan was murdered on September 30, 2008. The Saket Court in Delhi had sentenced the four accused—Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Singh Malik, and Ajay Kumar—to life imprisonment, imposing a fine of Rs 1.25 lakh on each.
The Delhi High Court’s decision to suspend their sentences came after the convicts had spent 14 years in custody. The High Court’s ruling was based on the time they had already served and the pending appeals challenging their convictions. The court had requested the Delhi Police to respond to the appeals filed by the convicts, which are yet to be resolved.
