The Hindu : Front Page : "Mattoo case judgment a benchmark for CBI, trial courts"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2006
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"Mattoo case judgment a benchmark for CBI, trial courts"

Special Correspondent

Verdict will help restore people's faith in the system, says CBI chief

PHOTOS: AFP, AP

AFTER THE VERDICT: Santosh Kumar Singh (in white shirt), convicted for the rape and murder of 23-year-old Priyadarshini Mattoo nearly 11 years ago, is being led out of the Delhi High Court on Tuesday. At right, a lawyer is seen assaulting news photographers after they took pictures of Singh on the court premises.

NEW DELHI: Describing the conviction of Santosh Kumar Singh for the rape and murder of Priyadarshini Mattoo as a "benchmark" for CBI officials and trial courts, CBI Director Vijay Shanker on Tuesday said the verdict would go a long way in restoring people's faith in the criminal justice system.

"The CBI welcomes the long-awaited judgment that the Delhi High Court gave on Tuesday. We have pressed for maximum punishment for the guilty and we will strive for the death penalty for him," he told reporters.

The CBI Director had instructed the agency officials to press the High Court for early hearing of its application in the case. This plea was granted in July and the regular hearing began the next month. Within a span of just over two months, the Delhi High Court concluded hearings and delivered the verdict as well.

"The stand of the CBI has finally been vindicated," Mr. Shanker said.

The CBI chief also met Priyadarshini's father Chaman Lal Mattoo in August, and assured him that everything would be done for securing speedy justice. "We in the CBI perceive that this judgement shall be applicable as a benchmark for all investigating officers of the CBI as well as trial courts." "Had the CBI's appeal come up for an early hearing, the prolonged agony of the Mattoo family would have been minimised," Mr. Shanker said.

Chennai Staff Reporter writes:

This is an extremely satisfying judgement, which vindicates the stand of the CBI right from the beginning of the investigation and re-establishes the reputation of the CBI as a strong investigating agency of international standards, said the former Director of the CBI, R.K. Raghavan, here on Tuesday.

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