Bombay HC confirms death penalty to man killing his family

Mumbai, June 26 (UNI) Bombay High Court today confirmed the capital punishment awarded by a lower court to an accused who had killed four members of his own family in an apartment in Andheri, Western suburb in 2003.

A division bench comprising Justices D G Deshpande and S A Bobade, while confirming the death penalty in their order, agreed with the prosecution submission that the accused -- Ajit Singh Gujral -- was involved in the 'rarest of the rare case', hence, he deserved death penalty.

The court, however, stayed its own order for eight weeks to enable the defence to file an appeal in the apex court.

Gujral, a resident of the Shere-e-Punjab colony in Andheri, was sentenced to death by a sessions court here for setting ablaze his wife Kamaljit, son Amandeep and daughters Niti and Tania on April 10, 2003.

According to prosecution, Gujaral, a businessman, often had quarrels with his family over money matters as he was reportedly under a debt of about Rs 50 lakh.

After committing the offence, Ajit fled from Mumbai and was later arrested from Ajmer in Rajasthan. Police had also recovered a car, Rs seven lakhs and 24 silver coins from him at the time of his arrest.

Gujral was convicted by the trial court on the basis of various evidences and also on the basis of deposition of his employees, who had admitted that there were frequent quarrels among the family members.

UNI XR/PVN GK MSJ DS1435