- By Vivek Raj
- Sat, 25 Nov 2023 03:58 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
After 15 years of journalist Soumya Vishwanthan's murder in the national capital, Delhi's Saket Court on Saturday sentenced life imprisonment to all four convicts. Apart from the life imprisonment, the convicts Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Balbir Malik, and Ajay Kumar have also been fined Rs 25,000 each and Rs 1 lakh each under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The fifth convict, Ajay Sethi, was fined Rs 7.5 lakh.
On September 30, 2008, Soumya Vishwanathan, a 25-year-old journalist, left her office at 3:03 am, unknowingly embarking on a drive that would tragically be her last. Little did she realise that a late-night robbery attempt would brutally cut short her life.
Delhi court on October 18 delivered a verdict in her case, finding four men guilty of murder and organised crime under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA). The fifth, Ajay Sethi, was held guilty of helping the others.
Soumya's parents, Madhavi and MK Viswanathan endured a 15-year wait for justice, with over 300 hearing sessions. After the Delhi court convicted five people in the case, the elderly couple couldn’t hold back their tears. "We lost our daughter, but this will act as a deterrent for others otherwise they (the convicts) would have been emboldened. At least, one gang would be out. That's all," said Soumya Vishwanathan's mother.
Who Was Journalist Soumya Vishwanathan?
Soumya Vishwanathan, a 25-year-old journalist, was a news producer at Headlines Today (now India Today). She was the only child of her parents, Vishwanathan and Madhavi, hailing from Kerala. Soumya studied English Journalism at IIMC Dhenkanal and was known for her dedication and studious nature.
Soumya Vishwanathan at IIMC Dhenkanal, 2003-2004 Batch Group photo
Speaking to Jagran English, Subhankari Das, the head of the library and hostel at IIMC Dhenkanal, said, "Soumya was a dedicated and sincere student. She excelled in her studies, which helped her become an important part of a well-known media company's newsroom. Besides her academic achievements, she had a trustworthy and helpful nature, always assisting her fellow students."
"Justice after 15 years. Soumya was my batchmate at lIMC Dhenkanal. She always had a smile on her face, and I never saw any tension. The death of Soumya was a great shock to us. Her family fought a long battle, and the culprits deserve capital punishment," Swadheen Kumar Raut, her batchmate at IIMC Dhenkanal posted on Facebook.
"Soumya Vishwanathan was the brightest young producer I have had the privilege of working with. On the night she was murdered, Soumya had stayed back after finishing the afternoon shift to help the night team prepare for the morning show. There had been a major terror attack and the newsroom was stretched covering the breaking news. Soumya was the flag-bearer of commitment and hard work in our newsroom," India Today News Director Rahul Kanwal posted on X.
What Happened on September 30, 2008?
On the night of September 30, 2008, after working late to cover a breaking news event, Soumya left her Jhandewalan office at 3:03 am and began her journey home to Vasant Kunj. During her drive, she overtook a car occupied by Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljit Malik, and Akshay Kumar.
The four individuals in the other car noticed that Soumya was alone and began following her, attempting to intercept her vehicle. Kapoor fired a shot at her from a country-made weapon, resulting in her instant death when the bullet struck her head. Her car crashed against a divider on Nelson Mandela Marg, close to her home.
The killers fled the scene and returned 20 minutes later to check on Soumya's condition. They subsequently fled again upon spotting police personnel. Around 3:45 am, a passerby saw Soumya in her car, alerted the police, and she was rushed to AIIMS, where she was declared dead. Her phone and wallet were later found in the car.
A Tattoo and Stolen Wireless Set: Delhi Police’s Trail to Soumya Vishwanathan's Killers
The breakthrough in Soumya Vishwanathan's murder case occurred during the investigation into the killing of IT professional Jigisha Ghosh in 2009. Three individuals, Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla and Baljeet Malik, who were arrested for murdering Jigisha Ghosh, later confessed to their involvement in Soumya Vishwanathan's murder in 2008. Following these confessions, the Delhi Police arrested Ajay Kumar and Ajay Sethi for their roles in Soumya's murder.
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In Jigisha Ghosh's case, CCTV footage revealed that one of the accused had a distinctive hand tattoo and another was carrying a wireless set he had stolen from a police officer. Malik had his name inked on his hand, while Kapoor used to carry a wireless set which he had snatched from a police officer.
"We were a bit shocked when Ravi Kapoor himself revealed that they had committed the murder of another girl at Nelson Mandela Marg, which was not very far from Vasant Vihar. Two other associates - Ajay Kumar and Ajay Sethi - were involved in that murder,” Atul Kumar Verma, the investigating officer of the Jighisa murder case told PTI.
The investigation in the Soumya Vishwanathan case was carried out by the police from Delhi South district, which was led by HGS Dhaliwal at the time. Dhaliwal currently holds the position of the special commissioner in the Delhi Police special cell. Speaking to the media after yesterday’s verdict, the senior officer said that it was a challenging case due to the absence of physical contact between the victim and the perpetrators.