New Delhi: The father of slain law student
Priyadarshini Mattoo has expressed disappointment over the
CBI`s failure to file a review petition in the Supreme Court
challenging the commutation of death sentence awarded to her
killer Santosh Kumar Singh.
The last date of filing the review plea expired today.
C L Mattoo alleged that it was a "pre-determined
decision" by the CBI not to file the petition in the apex
court.
"We feel disappointed... It has shocked us," Mattoo said
when asked whether he was let down by the CBI.
"After the verdict was pronounced by the judges of the
Supreme Court, we were shocked about the lenient way they
(CBI) have taken the case," Mattoo told CNN-IBN.
Last month, the Supreme Court had upheld the conviction
of Singh in the 14-year-old rape and murder case of the Delhi
college student but reduced the death sentence to life
imprisonment, saying certain things were in his favour.
Disappointed over the verdict, Mattoo had written to the
CBI Director Ashwani Kumar requesting the agency to file a
review petition.
"We did approach the director of CBI asking are you going
to file petition for the review of the case? But there was no
response for the last three weeks. It was shocking for the
family," Mattoo said.
CBI`s version was not immediately available.
Santosh Kumar Singh, son of a former senior IPS officer,
was acquitted by the trial court on December 3, 1999, but the
Delhi High Court had on October 27, 2006, reversed that
decision by holding him guilty of rape and murder.
CBI had sought upholding of the death sentence saying the
High Court had correctly appreciated the evidence leading to
his conviction.
Santosh, a law student in the Delhi University, had raped
and murdered Priyadarshini, a third-year law student, in
January 1996.
PTI
