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.
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.
{{/usCountry}}Sharma’s counsel KK Sud said an appeal would be filed in the Supreme Court.
{{/usCountry}}Email Harish V Nair: harish.nair@hindustantimes.com