Delhi HC pulls up trial court over delay in Soumya’s case

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Thursday asked a lower court to inform the reason for non-conclusion of trial in the 2008 murder case of TV journalist Soumya Viswanathan.

The court further directed the Delhi police to file a status report before indicating the reason for the delay despite nine-and-a-half years having passed since the filing of the chargesheet. Justice Mukta Gupta issued notice to the police and said “status report to be filed by the state. Status report shall indicate the reason for delay in conclusion of trial.”

“The trial court will also send latest report why despite almost nine-and-a-half years having been passed by since the charge sheet was filed, trial has not concluded. List the matter for further hearing on February 26,” the high court said.

The court was hearing a plea by one of the accused, Baljeet Malik, facing trial in the Soumya murder case, seeking to expedite and conclude the trial in a fixed time frame on daily basis.

In the petition, 30-year-old Malik also sought to the authorities to compensate him with Rs 1 crore for the unreasonable and inordinate delay in investigation and trial of the case.

Soumya was shot dead on September 30, 2008 while she was returning home in her car from office in the wee hours.

The trial of the case is pending before a sessions judge in Saket district court.

The plea said Malik was charged with the stringent provisions of Mcoca (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime) due to which he has not been able to secure regular bail and it was his constitutional right to have a speedy trial.