Sikand murder case: Ex-Army officer gets life term

VERDICT, AT LAST: Retd Lt Col S J Chaudhary was held guilty 26 years after committing the crime.

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New Delhi: Tees Hazari Court on Saturday sentenced a retired army officer to life imprisonment for murdering a man 26 years ago.

CBI proved in the court that Lt Col S J Chaudhary had murdered an automobile dealer, Krishan Sikand, because he was planning to get married to Chaudhary's ex-wife Rani.

Krishan Sikand died on October 2, 1982 when a parcel delivered at his residence by Chaudhary exploded and killed him on the spot.

“He [Chaudhary] has been given the life term under section 302 for murder and 10 years under the explosives act with a fine of Rs 10,000,” Sikands’ lawyer S C Chawla said.

Krishan's 98-year-old father H D Sikand fought the legal battle for over two decades as the case file moved from one court to the other, from one adjournment to the next.

But on Saturday he was a relieved man when Chaudhary was finally held guilty.

“Justice has been done. I am peaceful,” H D Sikand said.

The first phase of the 26-year-long legal battle is over and though the convict plans to appeal in the High Court, the Sikand family is satisfied.

But the sheer time taken for this trial to end raises question if justice delayed for so long can actually be called justice at last.