Four convicts in the December 16 gangrape-cum-murder case have been awarded death penalty by a Delhi court on Friday which said, the gravity of the offence cannot be tolerated.
“Death to all,” said Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna while delivering the verdict.
The case had evoked nationwide outrage and led the government to bring in a stringent anti-rape law.
The Judge said, the offence committed by Mukesh, Akshay Thakur, Pawan Gupta and Vinay Sharma falls under the rarest of rare category warranting capital punishment.
The four were convicted by the court on September 10 for the gangrape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedic student.
The Court said, there should be an exemplary punishment in view of the unparalleled brutality with which the victim was gangraped and murdered. He said, this is a time when crime against women is rising in the society and its Judiciary's responsibility to instill confidence among the women.
Besides murder, the four have been also convicted for offences including gangrape, unnatural offences, attempt to murder, dacoity, destruction of evidence, conspiracy, kidnapping or abducting in order to murder, while acquitting them of the charge of murder in dacoity.
The judgement has been widely hailed. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, the Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said the judgment has set a new example by sending a message that culprits committing such heinous crime will get stringent punishment.
Shinde said this was the rarest of rare crime and the death sentence for the four guilty has ensured justice for the brave-heart and her family.
Rejecting Defence Counsel A.P. Singh’s claim that the verdict was delivered under political pressure, Shinde said the judiciary follows law and not political pressure.
Talking about the Mumbai gangrape case, the Home Minister said that he was quite confident that the Maharashtra government will also expedite the case and ensure speedy justice.
Shinde further informed that the government has made a provision in law for appointing a woman police officer in each police station to enable women victims to lodge FIRs.
Minister of State for Home Affairs, RPN Singh has said, justice has been done in the gangrape case.
In a tweet, Singh said, there has to be zero tolerance for such crimes and the message has gone out with the sentence.
Reacting to the death sentences awarded to Delhi gangrape convicts, the Congress party said, it is no consolation but has brought some solace to the victim's family.
Briefing media in New Delhi Friday evening, Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury said, it will send out a strong message to such people who commit crimes against women and encourage those who fight for justice.
BJP has welcomed the judgement in the Delhi gang rape case. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabh Sushma Swaraj tweeted that this will serve as a deterrent for such offences in the country.
CPI (M) leader, Brinda Karat said only giving death sentence is not enough in such cases and there is a need to strengthen the law and conviction process in sexual assault cases.
Delhi Police Joint Commissioner, Tejinder Luthra said, the landmark judgment has sent a message of deterrence to criminals. He said, it is also a matter of satisfaction for the investigating team.
