Parents break down, thank IPS officer Dhaliwal

Sabita and Jaganath Ghosh, parents of murdered IT executive Jigisha Ghosh, who have attended every court hearing of her killers’ trial since 2009, broke down after the judge on Monday sentenced two of her murderers to death and third to a life term in prison.

After the verdict, 58-year-old Sabita Ghosh said, “Jigisha was always against death sentence and she might not agree with today’s judgment too, but what else do these criminals, who have destroyed a complete family, deserve, if not death ”

With tears in her eyes, she said: “I have never believed in God, but throughout the trial I prayed to God and cried for justice and we have finally got it.” Ms Ghosh did not object to third convict, Baljeet Malik, not being awarded death sentence, saying: “His conduct was good throughout the trial.”

Jigisha’s parents thanked senior IPS officer H.G.S. Dhaliwal, who led the police team that cracked the murder case. They appreciated the Delhi police for a its thorough probe and evidence that lead the court to sentence two convicts to death and the third to life in prison. While Sabita thanked the police, prosecutor and media for their unending support, her husband and Jigisha’s 72-year-old father J.N. Ghosh, a former official of the ministry of health and family welfare, expressed satisfaction, but remained in a corner with tears glistening in his eyes. He could not speak much even after the pronouncement of the verdict, merely saying, “We are satisfied. But what is gone is gone. We cannot get our daughter back but are happy with the verdict.”

The killers of Jigisha had left a long trail of clinching evidence, including an eyewitness who saw them dragging the victim in their vehicle, meticulously gathered by the police investigators to nail the convicts.

The police got the wind of the trio initially through hectic use of Jigisha’s debit and credit cards after abducting and killing her on March 18, 2009.