SC permits Santosh Kumar to perform father's last rites

New Delhi, Sep 5 (UNI) The Supreme Court permitted Santosh Kumar Singh, an advocate facing death sentence in Priyadarshini Mattoo murder case to perform the last rites of his father, J P Singh, an IPS officer, who died today.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran today directed that Singh would be taken in police custody tomorrow to participate in the last rites(kriyakaram) and should be brought back to Tihar Jail after the last rites of his father.

Singh was acquitted by trial court Judge G P Thareja, which led to huge public outcry against the tendency of big fishes succeeding in defying law and order and getting away with the grave offences like rape and murder.

Delhi High Court, however, reversed the order of acquittal and awarded him capital punishment last year for rape and murder of Law student of Delhi University, Priyadarshini Mattoo in January 1999 at her Vasant Vihar residence when she was alone at home.

Mattoo was being harassed and escorted by Santosh Kumar Singh for two year prior to her murder for refusing to marry the convict.

Death sentence of Singh has been stayed by the apex court and his appeal against the High Court judgement is already in the Supreme Court.

Today's order was passed by the apex court when the matter was mentioned before the Supreme Court for his release on parole to attend the funeral and also to perform the last rites of his father.

UNI