Delhi court convicts four for killing TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan in 2008
New Delhi, (PTI): More than 15 years after television journalist Soumya Vishwanathan was shot dead during a robbery bid at the heart of the national capital, a Delhi court Wednesday convicted four persons of an organised crime syndicate for murder and other offences, saying charges against them are "duly proved beyond all reasonable doubt".
In one of the sensational incidents of 2008, Vishwanathan, who was working with a leading English news channel here, was shot dead in the wee hours of September 30 on Nelson Mandela Marg while she was returning home from work. Police had claimed that the motive behind the killing was robbery.
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Ravindra Kumar Pandey convicted Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik and Ajay Kumar for offence of murder and common intention under the IPC.
They were also held guilty under provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for committing organised crime resulting in death of the person and the offences entail death penalty as the maximum sentence.
The court also convicted fifth accused Ajay Sethi under section 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) and MCOCA provisions for conspiring to abet, aid or knowingly facilitate organised crime and for receiving the proceeds of organised crime.
The court would hear arguments on quantum punishment to be awarded to the convicts on October 26.
Pronouncing the operative part of the verdict in a packed courtroom, ASJ Pandey said, "The court is of the considered view that prosecution has duly proved beyond all reasonable doubt that accused Ravi Kapoor and his other associates, co-accused Amit Shukla, Ajay Kumar and Baljeet Malik had committed the murder of the deceased or victim Saumya Vishwanathan with the intention to rob her on September 30, 2008, in between 3:25 AM and 3:55 AM at Nelson Mandela Marg."
The court, in its 261-page judgement, dealt with the testimonies of 97 prosecution witnesses in a case which hinged on circumstantial evidence and said the four accused were found guilty and convicted under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 302 (murder) and 34 (common intention).
"The prosecution has also duly proved beyond all reasonable doubt the charge of the offence punishable under Section 3 (1) (i) (committing organised crime resulting in the death of any person) of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the accused," the court said.
Regarding the fifth accused, Ajay Sethi, the court said the prosecution had "duly proved beyond all reasonable doubt" that accused Sethi retained "knowingly and intentionally" retained the offending vehicle or car, which was stolen in Vasant Kunj and hence, he was guilty under IPC section 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property).
"The prosecution has also duly proved beyond all reasonable doubt that accused Ajay Sethi abetted or knowingly facilitated the commission of organised crime by the organised crime syndicate led by accused Ravi Kapoor... and he also used to hold the property derived or obtained from the proceeds of organised crime.
"Accordingly, he is held guilty and convicted for the charges of the offences punishable under sections 3 (2) (conspiring to abetting, aiding in, or knowingly facilitating organised crime) 3 (5) (holding property derived or obtained from commission of an organised crime or which has been acquired through the organised crime syndicate funds) of MCOCA," the court said.
Speaking to reporters after the verdict, the victim's mother Madhavi Viswanathan demanded life imprisonment for all four convicts, saying they should suffer what her family went through.
"We lost our daughter. We demand life terms for convicts, they should suffer what we went through," she said.
Five people were arrested for the murder and they have been in custody since March 2009.
The recovery of the weapon used in IT executive Jigisha Ghosh's killing had led to the cracking of Vishwanathan's murder case, police said.
After Malik moved the Delhi High Court in 2019 for a speedy trial, it sought a report from the trial court, asking why the trial had not concluded even though the charge sheet was filed nine-and-a-half years ago.
The trial court had informed the high court that the delay was primarily due to the non-presence of prosecution witnesses and the time taken for the appointment of a special public prosecutor.
The trial court had given the death penalty to Kapoor and Shukla and sentenced Malik to a life term in the Jigisha Ghosh murder case in August 2016.
In January 2018, however, the high court commuted the death sentences of Kapoor and Shukla to life imprisonment and upheld the life term for Malik.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
