‘Priyadarshini’s Killer Was In Open Jail, How Can He Seek Release?’ Hemant Mattoo Speaks To News18

Last Updated:July 21, 2025, 07:00 IST

Priyadarshini Mattoo’s brother Hemant expressed shock over leniency shown towards convict Santosh Singh, who has benefited from a reduced sentence and an open jail arrangement

Santosh Singh, the convict in the rape and murder of Priyadarshini Mattoo. (File)

In a deeply emotional and revealing conversation, Hemant Mattoo, brother of Priyadarshini Mattoo, shared his thoughts on the July 1 Delhi High Court directive to reconsider the rejection of a sentence review plea filed by Santosh Kumar Singh — the man convicted of raping and murdering Priyadarshini in 1996. This isn’t the first time the review board has rejected his plea.

Hemant expressed his shock and disappointment over the legal leniency shown toward the convict, who has already benefited from a reduced sentence and an open jail arrangement. He strongly questioned the justice system’s idea of “reformation", emphasising the complete absence of remorse or acknowledgment from Singh or his family.

Hemant also opened up about the immense personal loss his family suffered due to the crime, saying that “his father, mother and sister died prematurely" because of the crime committed by Singh.

Edited excerpts:

What was your first reaction when you heard the judgment on July 1?

I was stunned and very disappointed. I couldn’t believe that he received some leniency. The Supreme Court had already commuted his sentence from the death penalty to life imprisonment. At that time, the impression was that “life imprisonment" would mean decades in prison. Since then, I have been following the case closely—especially alongside my father until he passed away in 2016. After the 2008 High Court judgment that convicted him, he was in prison. But after a few years, he was shifted to an open jail where he could leave during the day and return in the evening.

What is your concern now?

My concern is that he hasn’t fully served the punishment he was supposed to. Considering the gravity of the crime and his past behaviour, it’s very concerning that he is getting leniency. Has he ever reached out? Has he ever shown remorse or contacted us?

Did he or his family ever try to apologise?

Never. Neither he nor his family has ever approached my parents or me to say even a single word acknowledging our suffering. I don’t know what “reformation" means in the justice system if there’s no remorse, no apology, no acknowledgment. What has he done in jail that merits release?

The lower court acquitted him, then the High Court convicted him in a strongly worded order, and the Supreme Court commuted his death sentence to life imprisonment. Do you think the Indian judicial system helped you get justice?

To some extent, yes—until the High Court stage. The High Court took cognisance of the gravity of the case, his pattern of harassment and stalking, and the influence his father had on the police and other departments. The trial court didn’t rely on circumstantial evidence and let him go. But the High Court did, and we were satisfied at that point. However, we were disappointed with the lower court earlier and even with the Supreme Court when it commuted his death sentence.

Do you think this is a complete judicial process, and should he be given a chance to reform and live in society or you think he would be dangerous for society?

I can’t predict if he will be dangerous, but I’ve never met him or spoken to him. What I know is he hasn’t served the punishment he was supposed to. He’s a manipulative person—he was manipulating the system before the crime, after the crime, and even during the sentence. How many convicts are allowed into open jails? He hasn’t even completed his life sentence.

The recent order talks about of “reformation". What’s your view?

To me, reformation would mean that he or his family would come and acknowledge the pain caused to my family. My parents were alive till 2020. No one came forward. They act as if what happened was justified or irrelevant. There’s no remorse. They act like they can bend the system however they want. We’ve been shown from the beginning that they simply don’t care.

Hypothetically, if he or his family came and sincerely apologised, would you be able to accept his premature release?

I don’t think so. This has gone too far. One incident destroyed my family. My father died prematurely. My mother passed away prematurely. My other sister also passed away. Three family members gone because of that one incident. I can never forgive him. He should have been hanged.

Can you tell us about the challenges your family faced during this long legal journey?

My father was the one who pursued the case. He faced huge challenges with the CBI—one day they would say something encouraging, the next day something disappointing. My father believed Singh’s father, then an IPS officer, was influencing the investigation. The CBI’s stance kept shifting, probably under pressure.

Will you challenge the premature release if it happens?

We are already doing that. Through friends and legal acquaintances in Delhi, we are submitting written responses to both the Delhi and Central governments. We are asking them to consider the case background, public sentiment, his dangerous behavioural pattern, and the high risk of repeat offending. He has never shown remorse—he may even come out with a revengeful mindset.

Ankur Sharma

With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, paramilitar...Read More

With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, paramilitar...

Read More

Location :

First Published:

News india ‘Priyadarshini’s Killer Was In Open Jail, How Can He Seek Release?’ Hemant Mattoo Speaks To News18