Shivani murder case: Sentencing likely on Monday
On Monday, a city court will decide the quantum of sentence to be imposed upon suspended IPS officer R K Sharma and three others convicted by a city court for the murder of journalist Shivani Bhatnagar.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: On Monday, a city court will decide the quantum of sentence to be imposed upon suspended IPS officer R K Sharma and three others convicted by a city court for the murder of journalist Shivani Bhatnagar.
The court had deferred the order on sentence for the convicts on March 20 after hearing the arguments from both sides. During the arguments on sentence, the prosecution had demanded death for R K Sharma and the hired killer, Pradeep Sharma.
Extending its side of the arguments, the prosecution had focussed on three arguments to explain why in their opinion, R K Sharma and Pradeep Sharma should be awarded death. According to the prosecution, the murder was "pre-planned, calculated and cold-blooded."
The prosecution tried to drive home the point that the plan was hatched by R K Sharma which saw its execution through the hired killer in a cold-blooded murder.
"The hapless lady was murdered in a pre-planned and calculated manner with the final execution taking place through the hired killer," special public prosecutor S K Saxena had said. The prosecution therefore, argued that both R K Sharma���s and Pradeep Sharma deserved a death sentence.
The prosecution had demanded life sentences, for the other two convicts, Sri Bhagawan and Satya Prakash.
Opposing the prosecution's demand, R K Sharma's defence said, "just because a journalist was murdered, it does not constitute rarest of the rare crimes."
"R K Sharma was an IPS officer, but he did not abuse his official position. There is ample scope for the accused to reform and get rehabilitated," advocate S P Minocha had said. Similarly, the defence of hired killer Pradeep Sharma had also argued against death penalty to his client as it was submitted that death penalty was befitting only when the crime was extremely brutal.
A city's fast-track court in its judgment on March 18 had convicted R K Sharma, the key conspirator in the case, along with Satya Prakash, Sri Bhagwan and the hired killer, Pradeep Sharma for Shivani's murder. All had been convicted for murder and criminal conspiracy.
Shivani was murdered at her home in Navkunj Apartments here on January 23, 1999.
In its judgement, the court had relied heavily upon the testimonies of Shivani's sister Sevanti and her friend, Sejal Shah. The court also took note of the call records that exposed the intimacy between Shivani and the suspended cop and also the conspiracy to murder her.
(Courtesy timesofindia.com)
The court had deferred the order on sentence for the convicts on March 20 after hearing the arguments from both sides. During the arguments on sentence, the prosecution had demanded death for R K Sharma and the hired killer, Pradeep Sharma.
Extending its side of the arguments, the prosecution had focussed on three arguments to explain why in their opinion, R K Sharma and Pradeep Sharma should be awarded death. According to the prosecution, the murder was "pre-planned, calculated and cold-blooded."
The prosecution tried to drive home the point that the plan was hatched by R K Sharma which saw its execution through the hired killer in a cold-blooded murder.
"The hapless lady was murdered in a pre-planned and calculated manner with the final execution taking place through the hired killer," special public prosecutor S K Saxena had said. The prosecution therefore, argued that both R K Sharma���s and Pradeep Sharma deserved a death sentence.
The prosecution had demanded life sentences, for the other two convicts, Sri Bhagawan and Satya Prakash.
ADVERTISEMENT
Opposing the prosecution's demand, R K Sharma's defence said, "just because a journalist was murdered, it does not constitute rarest of the rare crimes."
"R K Sharma was an IPS officer, but he did not abuse his official position. There is ample scope for the accused to reform and get rehabilitated," advocate S P Minocha had said. Similarly, the defence of hired killer Pradeep Sharma had also argued against death penalty to his client as it was submitted that death penalty was befitting only when the crime was extremely brutal.
A city's fast-track court in its judgment on March 18 had convicted R K Sharma, the key conspirator in the case, along with Satya Prakash, Sri Bhagwan and the hired killer, Pradeep Sharma for Shivani's murder. All had been convicted for murder and criminal conspiracy.
Shivani was murdered at her home in Navkunj Apartments here on January 23, 1999.
ADVERTISEMENT
In its judgement, the court had relied heavily upon the testimonies of Shivani's sister Sevanti and her friend, Sejal Shah. The court also took note of the call records that exposed the intimacy between Shivani and the suspended cop and also the conspiracy to murder her.
(Courtesy timesofindia.com)
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
