Tandoor case: HC upholds death for killer

The Delhi court upholds the death penalty awarded to former Youth Cong leader Sushil Sharma for killing his wife Naina Sahani, reports Harish V Nair.

The Delhi Court on Monday upheld the death penalty awarded to former Youth Congress leader Sushil Sharma for killing his wife Naina Sahani and then burning her body in a tandoor 12 years ago.

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Sahani was murdered on the intervening night of July 2-3, 1995. The trial court had sentenced Sharma to death on November 7, 2003. A month later, Sharma moved the high court.

A division bench of justices RS Sodhi and PK Bhasin said there could not be a better case for awarding a death sentence, considering the gruesome manner in which the woman was killed and the body disposed of.

Calling Sharma “power-drunk”, the bench dismissed his appeal.

The bench rejected his contention that he was not given a fair trial and that the offence was committed at the spur of the moment. On Sharma’s contention that the media’s over-coverage had prejudiced the verdict, the bench instead lauded the media for highlighting the offence.

Sharma’s counsel KK Sud said an appeal would be filed in the Supreme Court.

Email Harish V Nair: harish.nair@hindustantimes.com