This was one case which shook the entire nation . What had a bigger impact was the verdict which was delivered and "Santosh Singh’ accused of rape and murder of Priyadarshni Mattoo was acquitted on Dec 3rd 2005 by the Trial court . It happened due to lack of evidence against the accused and it was cited as a clear case of lapse and unfairness on part of the prosecution team .
India as a country which worships women in the form of goddess bowed it’s head in shame that day and judicial history was re-written . Justice was denied and many were to blame .
In a 449-page judgment, Additional Sessions Judge G.P. Thareja acquitted Santosh Kumar Singh, a law student in the University of Delhi and the son of a Senior officer of the Indian Police Service, of the charge of rape and murder of Priyadarshini Mattoo, a third-year law student, on January 23, 1996. Mattoo was found strangled to death in the bedroom of her South Delhi apartment with 19 injuries on her person. The operative portion of the verdict is telling. The Judge said: "Though I know he is the man who committed the crime, I acquit him, giving him the benefit of the doubt."
The case was handed over to the CBI following public expressions of outrage and the way the case was handled by Delhi Police ..However both failed on several counts and Priyadarshini was denied justice ......That was 2005
Determined to set their image straight the CBI team started to rework the case and finally justice prevailed in Oct 2006 . With persistent efforts from the CBI team ...the High Court made it very clear that position and power will not save you from the clutches of Law .
On Oct 17th 2006 Santosh Singh has been held guilty of rape and murder of Priyadarshni Mattoo and will be sentenced on Oct 30th .
Delivering the judgement the court said " The acquittal order passed by the trial judge in 1999 has shocked the conscience of the judiciary." and that the lower court judgement was preverse .
The grieving and obliged father Mr CL Matto , who had been fighting tirelessly for his daughter to get peace in heaven , for the last 10 years thanked the Youth of this country , the electronic Media and the Print Media for helping him win this battle
He said "Justice has been done. Common people in the country can now breathe with ease. This is a step in the right direction. My daughter cannot come back. But at least, her soul will be in peace today."
Priyadarshni’s close friend Indu Jalani said she had no words to express her joy.....
WITH PERSEVERANCE AND DEDICATION THE CBI TEAM PROVED WHAT VALUES THEY STAND FOR ......KUDOS TEAM ......YOU ROCK !!
CBI would press for severest of punishment for the accused to set an example and to reinstate the common man’s faith in the judicial system ....
WE WILL WAIT FOR OCT 30th 2006 ............ WHEN THEIR EFFORTS WOULD YIELD RESULT .