Look at similarities from 1996 crime.
http://www.samachar.com/showurl.htm?rur ... le~of~copsCourt's verdict in Mattoo case exposes role of copsNew Delhi, Oct. 17 (PTI): The Delhi High Court's verdict in the Priyadarshini Mattoo case today pointed to the misuse of power and position by police officials to shield their kin from prosecution in criminal offences.
While holding Santosh Singh, the son of a former IPS officer, guilty of raping and murdering Priyadarshini, a Bench comprising Justices R S Sodhi and P K Bhasin observed that such conduct of police officials would only encourage their children to commit crimes with impunity.
It emphasised the need for an independent agency, free from influence by any one, to handle cases involving the children of police officials.
Before concluding its verdict, the bench agreed with the trial's court observation that police were reluctant to act on repeated complaints of harassment and stalking against Singh as his father was a senior IPS officer in Delhi Police.
Criticising the force's failure to save Priyadarshini's life, the bench said "junior staff do not react to complaints against the relatives of their fraternity" and referred to the trial court's observation that the approach and working of the subordinate staff of Delhi Police clearly reflected that the rule of law "is not meant for those who enforce the law nor for their near relatives".
The court agreed with the trial court's remarks that "the conduct of the cops not only encourage the children of such persons who has the machinery of enforcement of law that they too can commit crime with impunity".
It said, "Where the crime is committed by such person, there should be a machinery which is uninfluenced and independent of such persons."
http://www.samachar.com/showurl.htm?rur ... urder~caseHC convicts Santosh in Mattoo murder case NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday convicted Santosh Kumar Singh, son of a former IPS officer, in the sensational case of rape and murder of Priyadarshni Mattoo.
He was convicted on both counts of rape and murder.
Allowing the CBI appeal against the trial court verdict acquitting the accused, a Bench comprising Justice R S Sodhi and Justice P K Bhasin said "the acquittal order passed by the trial judge in 1999 has shocked the conscience of the judiciary."
The Bench said it would prescribe the sentence of death or life imprisonment to the convict after Diwali vacation.
The court ordered CBI to take Singh, who was present, into custody forthwith.
The court said the evidence was incompatible with Singh's plea of innocence and "we held him guilty of the offence he committed".
The Bench said it was considering giving Singh either death or life sentence and fixed October 30 for hearing arguments on the point of sentence.
Mattoo, 23-year-old third year law student of Delhi University, was raped and murdered by Singh, who was a year senior to her, at her Vasant Kunj residence in south Delhi on January 23, 1996.