Delhi’s decade of infamy: Murders that shook nation’s conscience

For ace crime reporter Sanjeev Chauhan, the 1996 rape and murder of law student Priyadarshini Mattoo is a case that refuses to fade. As a young journalist, he covered it extensively, and recent news that her convicted killer, Santosh Kumar Singh, may soon walk free has brought the memories flooding back.

The 1990s were a defining and deeply troubling decade for Delhi, scarred by a series of high-profile murders between 1995 and 1999. The killings of Priyadarshini Mattoo, Naina Sahni, and Jessica Lal triggered national outrage, unrelenting media scrutiny, and fierce debate over the shortcomings of India’s legal system—especially when the accused were well-connected or powerful.

The Priyadarshini Mattoo case: A father’s fight for justice

On January 23, 1996, Priyadarshini Mattoo, a 25-year-old law student, was found raped and murdered in her uncle’s flat in Vasant Kunj. She had been struck 14 times with a motorcycle helmet and strangled with a wire—an act of violence that shocked the nation.

The primary suspect was Santosh Kumar Singh, her former classmate at Delhi University’s law faculty and the son of JP Singh, a senior police officer at the time. Singh had a long and documented history of stalking and harassing Priyadarshini. She had lodged multiple complaints and was eventually assigned a personal security officer.

Chauhan recalls a glaring lapse in protection: “On the fateful day, her guard did not show up, and no replacement was sent. That gave Santosh Singh the opportunity to commit the crime.”

The initial investigation was criticised for its sluggishness and possible bias due to Singh’s influential background. The case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), but in 1999, a trial court acquitted Singh, citing a weak prosecution and “fabricated” DNA evidence. In a scathing judgment, the judge stated that Singh was probably guilty, but could not be convicted based on the evidence presented.

The verdict ignited nationwide protests. Priyadarshini’s father, Chaman Lal Mattoo, led a tireless campaign for justice. “The intense scrutiny, amplified by media coverage and public outrage, pressured the judiciary to act,” says Chauhan.

The CBI filed an appeal, and in an extraordinary move, the Delhi High Court held day-to-day hearings. On October 17, 2006, it overturned the acquittal and convicted Singh of rape and murder, sentencing him to death. In 2010, the Supreme Court commuted the sentence to life imprisonment. As recently as July 2024, the Delhi High Court ordered a review of Singh’s plea seeking early release.

The Tandoor murder: A grisly betrayal

Social worker Pritam Dhariwal points to a flat on Mandir Marg where Naina Sahni once lived. On the night of July 2, 1995, Delhi was shaken by one of its most horrific crimes—what would come to be known as the “Tandoor murder.”

Naina Sahni was killed by her husband, Congress leader Sushil Sharma, who suspected her of having an affair with her classmate, Matloob Karim. An investigator from the original team recalls what may have been the trigger: Sharma returned home, found Naina speaking on the phone, and redialled after she hung up. Hearing Karim’s voice on the other end, Sharma flew into a rage and shot her dead.

In an attempt to hide the crime, Sharma transported her body to the Bagiya Barbeque restaurant, where he enlisted the help of the manager, Keshav Kumar. Together, they chopped the body into pieces and tried to burn it in a clay oven, or tandoor. A patrolling police constable noticed smoke and discovered the partially burned remains—a revelation that horrified the nation.

The forensic investigation proved decisive. An initial post-mortem suggested death by burns, but a second autopsy revealed two bullets lodged in her head and neck, confirming the murder.

On November 7, 2003, a lower court sentenced Sharma to death. The Supreme Court later commuted this to life imprisonment. In 2018, after serving over 23 years in prison, he was released. Today, Sharma lives alone in his Pitampura home, while Naina’s relatives remain in Patel Nagar—a quiet but constant reminder of the life she lost.

The Jessica Lal murder: When “no one” killed someone

At Delhi’s York Cemetery, a black granite tombstone reads: “Shona was only 34 when she suddenly left under tragic circumstances on 30th April 1999, to give happiness and laughter in heaven as she did in her short life.” “Shona” was Jessica Lal.

On April 29, 1999, Jessica, a model and celebrity bartender, was serving drinks at a high-profile party at the Tamarind Court restaurant in south Delhi. The bar had closed when Manu Sharma—son of a prominent politician—demanded a drink. Jessica refused. Sharma pulled out a pistol and shot her point-blank in front of a roomful of guests.

Despite having multiple witnesses, the case fell apart in court. On February 21, 2006, a trial court acquitted Sharma and eight others, citing a lack of conclusive evidence. The verdict was met with national outrage and led to the now-famous headline: “No One Killed Jessica.”

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Candlelight vigils and massive public protests followed. The sustained media and civic pressure forced a judicial review. On December 20, 2006, the Delhi High Court reversed the verdict, finding Sharma guilty and sentencing him to life imprisonment. The Supreme Court upheld the conviction.

In 2018, Jessica’s sister, Sabrina Lal, announced that she had forgiven Sharma and raised no objection to his release. He was freed in June 2020.

A lasting legacy

The murders of Priyadarshini Mattoo, Naina Sahni, and Jessica Lal remain etched into Delhi’s collective memory.

Supreme Court advocate RK Singh, who was still a student during that period, reflects on the public mood: “The killings of Mattoo, Naina Sahni, and Jessica Lal generated widespread anger against our weak judicial system. Those were horrific times.”

These three cases not only exposed the rot in the justice system, but also served as turning points—where public mobilisation, media vigilance, and judicial course correction briefly aligned to deliver justice. In doing so, they laid the groundwork for future conversations on women’s safety, judicial accountability, and the limits of political impunity.