Chandigarh Court Imposes Life Sentence on Former Cop's Son for 2019 Double Homicide
In a significant ruling, a Chandigarh district court has handed down life imprisonment to Kuldeep Singh, the 39-year-old son of a former Inspector of the Chandigarh Police, for the brutal murder of two sisters in 2019. The court emphasized the heinous nature of the crime, stating that the circumstances did not allow for any leniency in sentencing.
Verdict and Sentencing Details
Additional District and Sessions Judge Sonika pronounced the quantum of punishment on Monday, also imposing a fine of Rs 30,000 on the convict. This decision followed a conviction on February 6, where Kuldeep Singh was found guilty under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code for the killings. The court had deferred the sentencing announcement to February 9 after the conviction.
Background of the Crime
The tragic incident occurred on August 15, 2019, when Kuldeep Singh murdered sisters Manpreet Kaur (28) and Rajwant Kaur (27), residents of Baluana village in Fazilka district. The sisters were running a small pharmaceutical company in Zirakpur at the time. Kuldeep, who worked at a call centre in Mohali and lived in Zirakpur, was arrested at the New Delhi railway station shortly after the crime.
Police investigations revealed that Kuldeep had been in a relationship with Manpreet Kaur since 2010, when they met while working at the same call centre. However, the relationship deteriorated in the months leading up to the incident, as Kuldeep suspected Manpreet of being involved with another person.
Details of the Fatal Attack
On the day of the crime, Kuldeep entered the sisters' room with the intent to check Manpreet's mobile phones to confirm his suspicions about her alleged involvement with another individual. When Rajwant Kaur woke up and objected to his presence, the situation escalated into a violent confrontation. According to police reports, Kuldeep attacked both sisters, resulting in their deaths.
During the trial, the defence argued that Kuldeep was falsely implicated. However, after thorough examination of evidence and hearing arguments, the court held him guilty of the offence.
Plea for Leniency and Prosecution's Response
In his plea for leniency, Kuldeep Singh cited personal circumstances, including being the eldest son in his family, with married siblings and a deceased father. He claimed there was no one else to care for his mother in his absence and highlighted his lack of a prior criminal record, asserting that his entire future was at stake. He maintained his innocence and urged the court for a compassionate sentencing approach.
UT Public Prosecutor Sachin strongly opposed this plea, arguing that the offence was of an extremely grave nature. He detailed that Kuldeep killed Manpreet by inflicting injuries with a sharp-edged weapon and Rajwant by strangulation. The prosecutor urged the court to impose severe punishment to send a strong message to society and deter similar crimes.
Court's Final Observations
After considering arguments from both sides and reviewing the case records, the court described the offence as serious and heinous. The ADSJ noted that Kuldeep had brutally taken the lives of two young women, and the circumstances did not warrant any leniency in sentencing. While the court ruled out a lenient view, it observed that the case did not fall under the "rarest of rare" category that would merit the death penalty. Consequently, the court sentenced Kuldeep Singh to life imprisonment along with the monetary penalty.
