In 1995, Priyadarshini Mattoo had complained to the Police that Santosh Kumar Singh —the son of a highly placed Police officer, J.P. Singh—was harassing and stalking her. She was found strangled —raped and murdered—on January 23, 1996. On December 3,
Born on July 23,1973, Priyadarshini Mattoo migrated to Jammu from Srinagarwith her family where she completed her B Com from MAM College, and then joined Delhi University for her LLBcourse—she was in her final year. Following is the chronology of the trial herfamily had to undergo before their demand for justice was finally fulfilled.
1995: Priyadarshini had complained to the Police that Santosh KumarSingh —the son of a highly placed Police officer, J.P.Singh, then Inspector General of Police in Pondicherry—was harassingand stalking her. She had been provided with a personal security officer. Butthe stalking continued.
In retaliation, Santosh had lodged a complaint with the university allegingthat she was pursuing two degrees simultaneously. However, it turned out thatPriyadarshini had passed M.Com in 1991 and the complaint was merely malicious.
January 23, 1996: PriyadarshaniMattoo is found strangled and dead in her uncle’s Vasant Kunj residence in NewDelhi. She had been raped, injured 14 times with a motorcycle helmet, and finally strangled with a wire.Delhi Police registers FIR against Santosh Kumar SinghSantosh who had been spotted knocking for entrance into the house.
January 25, 1996: Casehanded over to the CBI which registers case
April 11, 1996: CBIfiles charge-sheet in the case against Santosh Kumar Singh
June 20, 1996: Casecommitted to Additional Sessions Judge General B B Chowdhury.
August 29, 1996: Chargesframed.
August 11, 1997:Trial starts in the court of Additional Solicitor General S C Mittal.
January 3, 1998: Prosecutionevidence closes. 50 Witnesses examined by the court. No defence witness
April 18, 1998: Argumentsclosed in the case marred by a controversy of allegations of money changinghands ahead of judgement. The case is transferred to ASJ G P Thareja
April 21, 1998: Caseadmitted with Thareja
June one, 1996: Tharejasummons two prosecution witnesses -- Inspector Lalit Mohan of Delhi Police andProf G V Rao
June one, 1996: CBIsubmits case diaries before Additional Sessions Judge Thareja.
Nov 30, 1998: ASJThareja begins hearing defence and prosecution witnesses.
March 31, 1999: Examinationof witnesses closes.
December 3, 1999: ASJ Thareja delivers judgement;says the "state had failed to bring home the charge of rape against theaccused...‘I know that he (the accused) is the man who committed the crime. Iacquit him, giving him the benefit of doubt.’’
But, he says, "there has been particular inaction by Delhi Police". Santosh's father, JP Singh, who had been transferred as Joint Commissioner of Police inDelhi during the trial, is clearly mentioned: "The influence of the father has been there in the matter and there was deliberate inaction".The judge also says, "Lalit Mohan, the Inspector was instrumental in creating false evidence and false defence for the accused. The witnesses of the police including a Sub-Inspector deposed falsely".
The Delhi Police, the judge said, attempted to assist the accused during the investigation and trial."The rule of law doesn’t seem to apply to the children of those who enforce it."
The Judge further added that the injuries on the accused along with the helmet and wire which was recovered from the accused made it clear he was guilty. However, the evidence had all been tampered with."That I know the defendant is guilty, my hands are tied. As a judge, I can only go by the evidence provided by the investigative agencies."
The judgement also accused the CBI of fabricating the DNA test in the rape case as it was not obtained in accordance with the judicial procedure and could not therefore be admitted in evidence in view of Section 45 of the Indian EvidenceAct and also held the CBI responsible for unfair investigation. It pointed outthat the CBI had failed to even produce the witness, Virender Prasad, householdhelp at the Mattoo residence. The police claimed Prasad had gone missing and was nottraceable; but a journalist could easily find later him in his Bihar village.
Later, then President KR Narayanan was to remark that "the cathedrals of justice have become likecasinos"
Feb 29, 2000: CBIappeals in Delhi High Court.
April 26, 2000: HighCourt admits appeal.
Oct 17, 2000: HighCourt issues bailable warrant against Santosh Singh.
Dec 17, 2001: CBIfiles appeal for early hearing before High Court.
Nov 25, 2002: CBIfiles application before High Court for early hearing.
Feb 14, 2003: Accusedfiles application for inspection of files.
March 25, 2003: HighCourt dismisses the application.
2004: Santosh Kumar Singh gets married, andpractices law in Delhi
February 21, 2006: Manu Sharma, the prime accused in the Jessica Lall murder case, and all the other eight accused are acquitted by a Delhi court which held that the police had failed to prove its case. The acquittals lead to public and media protests, demanding re-trials of Jessica Lall and Priyadarshini Mattoo cases and speedy trail of the Nitish Katara murder case.
July 22, 2006: CBIfiles another application for early hearing
July 28, 2006: DelhiHigh Court fixes Aug 31 as date for hearing
August 31, 2006:High Court orders daily hearings in the case.
Sept 27, 2006: HighCourt reserves judgment in the case. CBI seeks action against five Delhi Policeofficials.
Oct 17, 2006: HighCourt convicts Santosh Kumar Singh on both counts of rape and murder