On January 23, 1996, the 22-yr-old law student in Delhi Priyadarshini
Mattoo was raped and brutally murdered, and a little more than six
years ago, a court had acquitted the accused Santosh Singh.
The CBI took over the case who eventually cracked down upon Singh.
Shocking enough, the accused Santosh Kumar Singh was the son of a
high profile IPS officer JP Singh. Investigations revealed his past
which included a police complaint that Priyadarshini had filed, evidence
from the scene of the crime, witness testimony, and DNA samples to
substantiate the assault.
The trial which lasted till the end of 1999, got Singh acquitted
because of loopholes in CBI investigations. On December 3, 1999,
ASJ GP Thareja acquited Singh and lashed CBI for shoddy investigations.
In the meantime, the alleged killer even went on to marry and became
a practising lawyer in New Delhi.
However, Chaman Lal Mattoo, Priyadarshini’s father did not
give up hope. He waited for seven long years to get justice for
his daughter. A campaign to get justice for Priyadarshini was also
launched in which a march was organised on Priyadarshini’s
birthday on July 23, at the India Gate. Petitions were sent to President
APJ Abdul Kalam, Chief Justice of India YK Sabarwal, Delhi High
Court Chief Justice (acting) Vijender Jain and CBI Director Vijaya
Shankar.
Finally pressure by the media in the case made the Delhi HC finally
pronounce the death sentence on Santosh Singh on October 30, reinstating
public faith in the judiciary.
Terming the conviction of Santosh Singh for the rape and murder
of Priyadarshini Mattoo as a "benchmark" for CBI officials
and trial courts, CBI Director Vijay Shanker on Tuesday said the
verdict would go a long way in restoring the people's faith in the
criminal justice system.
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