30.07.2010 (UNI) The Supreme Court reserved its judgement in Priyadarshini Mattoo murder case.

Santosh Kumar Singh, a lawyer and son of an IPS officer, is facing death sentence for murdering his classmate when both were doing law from the Delhi University.

Mattoo was murdered on January 23, 1996 when she was alone at home. Singh was annoyed with her following her refusal to marry him.

According to the CBI, Singh used to stalk her and was constantly harassing her. Several complaints were lodged by her against the accused, but since his late father J P Singh was an IG in Delhi Police, no action was taken against Singh.

He was acquitted by the trial court in 1999, but the Delhi High Court reversed the order of the trial court and awarded him capital punishment on October 30, 2006.

A bench comprising Justices Harjit Singh Bedi and C K Prasad reserved the judgement after hearing the counsel for the petitioner as well as counsel for the CBI.

Counsel for the petitioner has contended before the court that the High Court has failed to appreciate the weak evidence against the petitioner in correct perspective and there was no compelling circumstances in the case warranting the interference by the High Court with the order of the trial court.

The CBI, on the other hand, contended that it was the fit case for awarding the capital punishment, as the accused has made her life hell by constantly stalking her and ultimately killed her when she spurned his advances. UNI