SC issues notice to UT as man alleges daughter’s murder

Alleging that her daughter was murdered and that she did not die in an "accident", advocate I P Attri has moved the Supreme Court demanding conviction of all the seven "accused".

Taking stock, the apex court on Friday issued notices to all the seven allegedly involved. Also, notices were issued to the Chandigarh Administration to respond to the special leave petition (SLP) filed by Attri.

The case holds significance as it was for the first time in the region, all district courts of Punjab and Haryana, that the statement of a witness was recorded through video-conferencing.

In May this year, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had converted the murder charge, slapped against Jeetinder Mohan Singh who was awarded life imprisonment for allegedly murdering advocate Manisha Attri, into causing death by negligence, and reduced the life sentence to two years of rigorous imprisonment. However, since the accused had remained behind bars for the past four years, he was ordered to be released.

Significantly, the High Court had awarded a compensation of Rs 7 lakh to the kin of the deceased. The compensation was ordered to be paid by Jeetinder Mohan to Manisha's family. Manisha had died on February 25, 1996, in an "accident" while returning from the district courts.

In his complaint, father and lawyer I P Attri had alleged that the accused killed Manisha as she was not withdrawing a particular case being fought in the Kharar court. He said Jeetinder Mohan's father was interested in two disputed booths located in Phase IV in Mohali, the owner of which was represented by Manisha.

It was alleged that in order to help his father, Jeetinder Mohan, in connivance with six others, had killed Manisha. A prosecution witness in his statement had stated he had seen a blue Maruti car approaching from Batra chowk at a speed of about 70 km per hour. The car, he said, abruptly turned towards Sector 23 and hit a scooter being driven by the victim. The girl fell on the front screen of the car. The car turned backwards and then ran over Manisha.

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