Sonia and Sanjiv hanging fixed for November 26

Hisar, Sept 7 (UNI) In the infamous murder case of Barwala ex-MLA Relu Ram Punia and his seven family members, the local session court today announced that the accused, daughter Sonia and son-in-law Sanjiv, will be hanged on November 26, 2007.

Relu Ram Punia and seven members of his family were murdered by his daughter and son-in-law on the night of August 23, 2001.

While announcing the date, Hisar Session Judge S S Lamba directed the Central Jail Ambala where the couple is imprisoned, to complete the hanging process and report back by December 1, 2007.

Ram Singh, brother of Relu Ram Punia, had prayed the session court to implement the death sentence. In this case District and Session Judge Arvinder Kumar Goyal had awarded death sentence on May 31, 2004. Sonia and Sanjiv had appealed to the High Court against this decision and the verdict was converted into life sentence.

However, Ram Singh and Haryana government appealed to the Supreme Court which upheld the decision of the Session Court on February 15 this year. The review petition was also turned down by the Apex Court on August 23, 2007.

The couple was found guilty of murdering Relu Ram Punia, his wife Krishna, son Sunil, daughter in law Shakuntla, daughter Priyanka, grandson Lokesh(4), grand daughters Shivani (2) and Preeti (infant).

UNI