The Inside Story
Sonia and her husband Sanjeev, convicted for murdering eight people, including her father, former independent MLA in Haryana Relu Ram Punia, and three children, have been recommended to be hanged by the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram. Sonia had written to the President seeking rejection of her mercy petition. In her letter, she had requested that her mercy petition be rejected, as she wanted to be hanged at the earliest. Chidambaram has recommended that the mercy petitions of the husband and wife be rejected, as there are no extenuating factors or mitigating grounds for the President to exercise her discretion for grant of clemency. The murders had stunned Hisar with villagers setting up a committee to bring the killers to justice.
On the night of August 23, 2001, Sonia and Sanjeev, according to case records, drugged and then clubbed to death Punia, his wife, Krishna; daughter Pammi; son Sunil; daughter-in-law Shakuntala and grandchildren Lokesh, Preeti, and Shivani at Punia's farmhouse in Hisar. The apparent motive was inheritance. The Hisar District and Sessions Judge awarded death penalty to the duo in May 2004. But on April 12, 2005, the Punjab and Haryana HC commuted the death sentence to life for both which was later upturned by the Supreme Court on February 15, 2007. Their mercy petitions were also rejected by the Haryana Governor in October 2007, who referred the matter to the President under Article 72 of Constitution, where it is pending.
The case highlights the need for law enforcement to be vigilant and proactive in dealing with criminal elements to ensure the safety and security of citizens. It also highlights the importance of the criminal justice system in delivering timely and fair justice to victims and their families.
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