‘Monster Parents’ get 10 yrs rigorous imprisonment

A former Army major and his second wife were sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under section 307 of the Indian Penal Code and six months of imprisonment under section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act, by a Delhi Court today. Major (Retd) Lalit Balhara and his second wife Preeti Balhara were charged guilty of battering and trying to kill their minor son from the officer's first wife. A fine of Rs 60,000 each was also imposed on the couple. Shaurya, now 13, was first brought to the hospital on April 23, 2002 - at the age of three - for treatment of alleged consumption of insecticide by him.