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Indian Express
7 days ago
- Indian Express
‘What signs of reformation has he shown?': Priyadarshini Mattoo's family relives horror of her death as killer seeks freedom
Hemant Mattoo hadn't felt this kind of rage in years. When he read about the Delhi High Court directing that the case for premature release of his sister's killer be considered afresh, it struck like a blow. But anger quickly gave way to disbelief when he saw the reason: the convict had shown an 'element of reformation.' Nearly three decades ago, his sister, Delhi University law student Priyadarshini Mattoo, was killed. She was 25. The accused was a college senior and an IPS officer's son, Santosh Kumar Singh. He had been pursuing her relentlessly in the months leading up to her death. On January 23, 1996, while Priyadarshini was alone at home, Santosh would be seen by a neighbour entering her house in the evening. She would later be found lying under her bed, with a room heater's cord wrapped around her neck — she had been brutally raped and murdered. For Hemant, the decades since her killing have been filled with recurring waves of fury. First, when the district court nearly let Santosh walk free, then when the Supreme Court commuted his death sentence to life imprisonment, and again upon learning that he was lodged in an open prison, afforded freedoms unimaginable to the family he destroyed. Speaking to The Indian Express, Hemant, who is settled in Canada, says, 'I want to know what signs of reformation he has shown. Has he apologised to my family? Has he apologised to his own family? He's never even approached us. He still maintains his innocence.' His anger mounts as he speaks further. 'He's been getting the mild side of the stick ever since he committed the crime. It's a joke that the justice system has played with us…' On July 1, the HC had directed the Sentence Review Board (SRB) to consider the case of Santosh's premature release afresh. Holding the SRB's decision to deny Santosh, along with two other prisoners, premature release as suffering from 'material procedural and legal infirmities', the court highlighted several lacunae in the current process undertaken by the board while deciding applications for early release of prisoners. A fresh decision is to be taken within four months. 'She faced months of harassment' Hemant vividly remembers that fateful January day. He was in Kuwait at the time when he got a call around 4 pm. It was from a family friend, who broke the news to him. 'The ground seemed to shift under my feet,' he says. By the time he reached Delhi, almost the entire Kashmiri Pandit community had gathered to pay their condolences. 'They first thought the murder was a militant attack. Then they got to know it was a guy who did it, a college student… Nothing like that had ever happened within our community.' Hemant pauses for a moment before saying, 'Well, apart from the exodus.' It had just been a few years after the Kashmiri Pandits had been forcibly exiled from the valley. The Mattoos had moved from Srinagar to Jammu. After Priyadarshini moved to the Capital to pursue her studies in Law, her father, Chaman Lal Mattoo, took up a job as chairman of a non-profit organisation in Delhi. However, their parents would soon notice how troubled Priyadarshini was in college. She had caught the eye of Santosh, a senior, and he was determined to woo her. In February 1995, he followed her on his bike and stopped her car at a traffic light. Priyadarshini responded by lodging a complaint at the R K Puram police station, where he signed an undertaking that he wouldn't harass her again. Six months later, in August, Santosh followed her home to Vasant Kunj and tried to break into the house. Priyadarshini went to the police. Again, the police made him sign an undertaking. By October, Priyadarshini's parents were aware of the routine harassment she was facing. She and her father approached the Commissioner of Police, seeking protection. She was subsequently assigned a Personal Security Officer (PSO). That same day, she debriefed the Dean of the Faculty of Law about the harassment, who, in turn, called Santosh and requested him to desist. Furious at her resistance, Santosh would attempt to get her expelled from college by accusing her of pursuing two degrees simultaneously. Priyadarshini had to give a detailed explanation to the authorities, reiterating Santosh's ploys of harassment. From then on, his behaviour saw an escalation. In November, he grabbed hold of her arm in college and refused to let go. This time, Priyadarshini filed a complaint and an FIR was registered at Maurice Nagar police station under IPC Section 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty). Santosh was arrested — before being let go on a personal bond, a signed letter promising the police that he'll appear in court when he is summoned. By December 1995, Priyadarshini was a nervous wreck. Hemant, who had come to Delhi for a vacation, recalls that she looked stressed. '… I remember she looked scared and stressed. When I asked her, she brushed it off as exam stress… she never told me anything. Later, when I demanded why I was kept in the dark, my cousins said nobody wanted me to worry…' By January next year, she was gone. The post-mortem report noted 19 injuries and three broken ribs. Santosh had also used his motorcycle helmet to bludgeon her head, a piece of evidence that would become crucial in the High Court case. When the helmet was submitted as evidence, it was damaged — the visor was broken, containing specks of blood. Moreover, Priyadarshini's PSO and the neighbour who saw Santosh entering the house would note in their testimonies that they had seen the same helmet with him, but undamaged and with a visor. During Priyadarshini's last rites, their mother confided in Hemant that they'd approached Santosh's father. 'They had asked him to make his son stop troubling Priya…,' recalls Hemant bitterly. But his father's faith in the judiciary was never shaken. 'He always believed the right thing would be done. He told me, 'We'll do it the right way, we'll take the legal route'… He sent me back to Kuwait as well because he was scared I'd do something stupid,' Hemant says. 'She was a tomboy, funny and fearless' Back in Kuwait, Hemant felt unmoored. 'Those days, I walked around like there was no life in me… She was eight years younger, she was my baby sister,' he says. He recalls Priyadarshini as a funny, gregarious, fearless and tomboyish girl. 'She was an incredible prankster. She would do this thing back when we were in Srinagar. When someone would come to visit our house, she'd tell them that their scooter was in the way and a neighbour had asked us to move it; could she have the keys? She'd then take the vehicle for a joy ride,' Hemant laughs. 'You could never be sad around her; she was always brimming with jokes. She was good at mimicry too — she only had to listen to someone talk once… Back then, she'd pick fights over politics with the boys in Nawabazaar. We used to say, 'We need to find a girl for this girl' because she was so tomboyish…,' he says. If Priyadarshini were still here, Hemant says, she'd probably have moved to the States or Canada after her studies. 'After we left Kashmir, we felt out of place everywhere. We were always looking for a place to settle down and put down our roots. He (Santosh) really took what little we had left,' says Hemant.
Hindustan Times
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi HC delivered 378 judgments on Day 1 after summer break
Despite working at a current strength of 60%, the Delhi high court delivered 378 judgments on July 1, when it reopened after a four-week summer break, according to data accessed by HT. This included 362 judgments on the 'appellate' side and 16 on the 'original' side. The Delhi high court delivered 362 judgments on the 'appellate' side and 16 on the 'original' side. (Representative photo) To be sure, while the high court in 'appellate' side deals with civil and criminal matters, the court in 'original' side deals with commercial matters, including intellectual property rights, arbitration and cases where the suit value exceeds ₹2 crore. On the appellate side, two benches led by court's third senior-most judge Navin Chawla, along with justices Shailender Kaur and Renu Bhatnagar, disposed of 306 civil cases. A bench of justices C Hari Shankar and Ajay Digpaul resolved 20 cases, also on the civil side. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma single-handedly disposed of 10 criminal cases, and justice Jasmeet Singh delivered six of 16 judgements pronounced by the high court's original side. The judgments not only reduced case backlog, but the detailed judgments also laid down legal principles and guidelines that could serve as precedents in future cases. In one instance, justice Sanjeev Narula in an 82-page verdict on setting aside the sentence review board's (SRB's) decision to reject premature release of Santosh Kumar Singh—serving a life term for the 1996 rape and murder of law student Priyadarshini Mattoo—issued guidelines for the Delhi government to ensure that SRB's decisions align with the objectives of the policy and uphold fairness and justice. In a separate ruling, justice Narula held that fugitives could apply for pre-arrest bail under the Indian law governing extradition. Coming to the aid of an eight-year-old autistic girl, justice Vikas Mahajan reaffirmed that educational institutions were legally obligated to provide inclusive education and accommodate children with special needs under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act. In an 85-page ruling, bench of justices Navin Chawla and Shailender Kaur dismissed 226 petitions filed by Centre against the disability pension awarded to ex-armed forces personnel, ruling that pensions can't be denied merely due to the disability occurring during a 'peace posting,' and stressing the need to recognise hardships of military service. Even as vacation benches continued to hear urgent matters three days a week, other judges continued with their effort to bring down the backlog. In June, bench of chief justice DK Upadhyay and justice Tushar Rao Gedela directed the consortium of National Law Universities declare revised CLAT PG results, after finding two errors in the consortium's answer key. Additionally, a bench of justices Prathiba M Singh and Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora specially assembled during vacation to assess the progress of authorities in cleaning a smelly culvert accessed every day by over 3,000 soldiers of Rajputana Rifles to head to their parade ground, and the construction of a foot overbridge to address their ordeal. While the Delhi high court continued its work during the summer break, the Supreme Court, in November 2024, replaced the term 'summer vacation' with 'partial working days', acknowledging that a section of the judiciary remained operational throughout breaks. Even during the current break of the Supreme Court, which commenced from May 23, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai renamed the vacation as 'partially working days' and marked a departure from the practice of senior judges including the CJI, not holding court hearings during summer break, by assembling in the first week along with the four senior-most judges.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Roger Federer Predicts Winner of Novak Djokovic vs. Jannik Sinner Wimbledon Match
Roger Federer Predicts Winner of Novak Djokovic vs. Jannik Sinner Wimbledon Match originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Wimbledon is down to its final four, and the buzz around Centre Court couldn't be any bigger. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is gearing up to face off against seven-time champ Novak Djokovic in what's shaping up to be one of the most thrilling semifinals in recent memory. Advertisement Pundits and fans have been going back and forth trying to figure out who's got the edge, but if there's one man who isn't losing sleep over picking a side, it's Roger Federer. The tennis legend didn't hesitate when asked for his prediction on this blockbuster clash. In a video recently shared on X, a fan asks Federer who he thinks would win in the upcoming semifinal. After hesitating at first, Federer replied saying, 'I think Novak.' Djokovic booked his spot in yet another semifinal after battling past Italy's Flavio Cobolli in four sets — 6-7, 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 — to make it 14 semifinal appearances at SW19. Meanwhile, Italy's Jannik Sinner shook off an elbow scare and took care of business against American Ben Shelton in straight sets. So now, we get the showdown everyone was hoping for when the draw first dropped: Sinner vs. Djokovic. Advertisement This will be the second time they've clashed in a major semi this year. Sinner actually got the better of Novak in straight sets at the French Open. Novak Djokovic (SRB) celebrates after receiving his gold medal during the Paris 2024 Olympic Searls-USA TODAY Sports via Imagn Images Plus, Sinner has won the last four against Djokovic! But grass is a whole different story. Djokovic has come out on top both times they've faced off at Wimbledon. With a record 25th Slam on the line, you know he's backing himself to deliver. Related: Novak Djokovic Clarifies His Decision to Split With Andy Murray This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Business Recorder
09-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Sindh endorses agriculture income tax rules
KARACHI: The Sindh Cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah here Tuesday endorsed Sindh Agricultural Income Tax Rules, 2025. The endorsement of these rules would pave the way for introducing clear procedures for registration, e-filing, and record-keeping by agricultural income earners. Under the new rules agricultural owners must register them with the Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) using Form AIT-01. Moreover, tax returns (Form AIT-03) must be submitted with evidence of payment. Detailed records must be maintained in Urdu, Sindhi, or English. Losses in calamity-affected areas can be carried forward to subsequent years. However, a subcommittee comprising the ministers of agriculture, law, and works & services was formed to finalise the draft for enforcement, aiming to modernise compliance and boost provincial revenue. Moreover, in a move towards digital governance, the cabinet approved an amendment to the Sindh E-Stamp Rules, 2020, eliminating the requirement for physical e-stamp paper in areas with an operational e-registration system. The amendment enables digital verification of stamp duty payments and ensures integration between the e-stamping and e-registration systems. Already active in 51 sub-registrar offices, this paperless initiative will streamline property transactions and reduce processing times. However, the provincial cabinet also endorsed several other initiatives aimed at tackling Karachi's water crisis, strengthening agriculture sector, boosting industrial growth, and enhancing regional connectivity. It deliberated on 52 agenda items, endorsing most of them with strategic directives for immediate implementation. To address Karachi's worsening water shortages, particularly in DHA, the cabinet approved a Rs 10.56 billion interest-free loan for Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KW&SC). The project entails laying a 36-km dedicated pipeline from Dumlottee to DHA, along with the construction of a pumping station, forebay, and filtration plant. The CM directed to complete the project within 11 months. The cabinet increased the Flood Emergency Response Component (FERC) allocation from Rs 21.56 billion to Rs 27.67 billion, benefiting 151,147 verified farmers impacted by the 2022 floods. So far, three disbursement phases have been taken place, with Rs 6.1 billion now allocated for the remaining verified farmers. An additional Rs 2.37 billion in savings will be channelled through the Benazir Hari Card to further support the agriculture sector. However, the cabinet authorised the Agriculture Department to sign a MoU with Sindh Bank for launching the Benazir Hari Card. This targeted initiative will provide subsidies on agricultural inputs, soft agricultural loans, disaster-related cash support, priority access to solar tube-wells and crop insurance. Registration has begun, with 237,125 farmers already enrolled. Of these, 88,871 applications have been verified for onward processing and card issuance. To accelerate coal transport from Thar to the port, the cabinet approved Rs 45.02 billion for a railway project linking Islamkot (Thar Coalfield) to Chorr, as part of a joint venture with the federal government. The project includes a 105-km rail line, a 9-km dual track from Bin Qasim to Port Qasim, and a coal unloading terminal. The federal government has already allocated Rs 7 billion in PSDP 2025–26, which the CM approved for immediate release. This two-year project will strengthen Pakistan's energy infrastructure and stimulate industrial growth in the region. However, to generate employment and attract private investment, the cabinet approved the establishment of New Industrial Enclaves on 951 acres in District Hyderabad under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. Over 55,000 jobs (direct and indirect) are expected from this initiative. Advisory consultants have been hired for feasibility and transaction structuring. The cabinet directed the transfer of land to the Sindh Economic Zones Management Company (SEZMC), with the Finance Department to pay Rs 3.54 billion for the land. The cabinet approved the allocation of 248 acres for the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway (M-6), valued at Rs 667.23 million. Additional reservations were authorised across Jamshoro, Matiari, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur, and Naushero Feroze, subject to departmental NOCs. The Chief Minister also authorised bridge financing if necessary to ensure the smooth implementation of this vital national connectivity project. On this occasion, the Chief Minister reaffirmed his government's dedication to inclusive and sustainable development, describing the approved initiatives as cornerstones of progress that address both immediate needs and long-term resilience. He instructed all departments to guarantee transparent execution, interdepartmental coordination, and the timely completion of approved projects. These sweeping decisions highlight the Sindh government's strategy to combine infrastructure development with social equity and economic opportunity. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, advisors, special assistants, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, and senior officers from concerned departments. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wimbledon Order of Play: Day 10 schedule with Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek in action
Quarter-final action from Wimbledon continues on Wednesday with plenty of big names looking to move one step closer to glory. No6 seed Novak Djokovic will be second on Centre Court as he takes on the Italian Flavio Cobolli - who defeated the experienced Marin Cilic in round four - in hope of reaching yet another semi-final at SW19. Advertisement The seven-time Wimbledon champion recovered from losing the first set in his fourth round showdown with Alex de Minuar to reach his 16th quarter-final at the All England Club. World number one Jannik Sinner booked a quarter-final place in quite extraordinary circumstances as he trailed Grigor Dimitrov by two sets to love before Dimitrov was forced to retire because of injury. Sinner, himself suffered an elbow problem which has seen him cancel his practice session. As things stand, the Italian is due to face Ben Shelton on Court No1. Meanwhile, Mirra Andreeva and Iga Swiatek are both in action as they aim to join women's top seed Aryna Sabalenka and the 13th seed Amanda Anisimova in the semi-final. Advertisement There's also a range of doubles matches scheduled for day 10, with a few Britons in action. Wimbledon Schedule | Order of play for Wednesday July 9, 2025 All times BST, 11am start unless stated. Seeds in brackets. Centre Court (1.30pm BST start) Mirra Andreeva [7] vs Belinda Bencic (SUI) Flavio Cobolli (ITA) [22] vs Novak Djokovic (SRB) [6] Court No1 (1pm BST start)
