Soumya Vishwanathan murder: Saket court seeks Pre sentence Report within one week
Oct 26, 2023
New Delhi [India], October 26 : A court here on Thursday directed the Delhi government to assign any Probationary officer the task of submitting the Pre-sentence Report (PSR) in the 2008 murder case of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan.
The report is directed to be filed within one week.
The matter was deferred in the court for some time as the convicts did not reach the lock up from Tihar jail.
The court called for a pre-sentence report (PSR) before hearing on the quantum of the sentence.
"The Principal Secretary, Delhi government is directed to assign to any PO for the task of submitting the PSR. The report is directed to be filed within one week," the court noted.
Secretary DLSA has already filed a victim impact report. However, the report related to the convicts has not been filed on behalf of the DLSA for the want of an affidavit on behalf of the convicts.
The Convict's counsels submitted jointly that they are not able to prepare the affidavits as detailed required for the affidavit is not available with them.
The matter was later listed for consideration of affidavits, PSR and arguments on sentence.
The next date of hearing is November 7, 2023.
During the hearing, convicts Ajay Kumar and Amit Shukla said that they are innocent.
The court said that you have a right to appeal against the judgment.
Ajay Kumar said that they (convicts) are in jail for 15 years in this whereas there was no evidence except a disclosure statement.
Soumya Vishwanathan was murdered in Delhi's Vasant Kunj area in September 2008.
Journalist Vishwanathan was found shot dead in her car at Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj on the night of September 28, 2008.
Earlier on October 18, the Saket Court convicted the four accused namely Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik and Ajay Kumar for the offence of murder under sections 302, 34 of IPC and 3(1)(I) of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
The fifth accused Ajay Sethi has been convicted for the offence of possession of stolen property under 411 IPC and 3 (2) and 3 (5) of MCOCA.
Ajay Sethi was discharged from the offence of murder. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) delivered the judgement.
