Delhi to name new prosecutor in Soumya murder case

The Delhi government has decided to appoint a new special prosecutor in the murder case of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan and appeal for a speedy trial, officials said on Thursday.

The decision comes after her parents met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and requested filling of the post which fell vacant when the existing special prosecutor left the case for private practice in October 2014.

Kejriwal assured them this would be done and directed Home Minister Satyendra Jain to ensure a new public prosecutor is appointed.

Jain told them that the Delhi government will bear the expenses of the special prosecutor and will move an application for putting the case on fast track.

He asked officials to approach Rajiv Mohan, who was the special prosecutor in the case but subsequently resigned, to take up the case again.

Soumya was murdered in south Delhi on September 30, 2008, while returning home from work. The trial is still on. Delhi Police claimed to have cracked the case in March 2009 with the arrest of the suspected killers.