The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Tuesday reduced the death sentences of two convicts to life imprisonment in the Yug murder case and acquitted the third convict from all charges.
In a judgment announced today , the Division bench of the High Court comprising Justice Vivek Thakur and Justice Rakesh Kainthla reduced the death sentences of two convicts Chander Sharma and Vikrant Bakshi to life imprisonment and acquitting third convict Tejinder Pal Singh, leaving Yug ‘s parents disappointed .
Four years old child Yug was kidnapped for seeking ransom in 2014 , the child was allegedly “tortured for several days and later murdered in a most gruesome manner by dumping the victim in a drinking water tank in Bharari area of Shimla town, his legs tied with a big boulder ” , as per the prosecution; evoking public outrage and social condemnation.
The trial court had convicted all three accused to death sentences. Dejected with the High Court judgment, father of the victim, Vinod Gupta said, “We will approach the Supreme Court against the judgment”.
Justices Vivek Singh Thakur and Rakesh Kainthla stated their decision was influenced by the potential for reformation of the convicts, expressing dissatisfaction with the initial trial court’s death penalty ruling. The court noted the absence of evidence suggesting the convicts were beyond reformation.
In the Judgment the Division Bench stated , “ The appeal filed by accused Tejinder Pal Singh is allowed and he is acquitted of all charges , whereas the appeals filed by Chander Sharma and Vikrant Bakshi are partly allowed and their death sentence is converted to life imprisonment until their last breath .”
