Delhi HC Orders Fresh Review of Santosh Singh’s Release Plea

 In a significant development in the Priyadarshini Mattoo case, the Delhi High Court has directed the Sentence Review Board (SRB) to reconsider the premature release application of Santosh Kumar Singh, who is currently serving a life sentence for the 1996 rape and murder of the law student.

Delhi High Court

Justice Sanjeev Narula, delivering the verdict on Tuesday, said, “The Court has found elements of reformation in him. The SRB’s earlier rejection of his release plea is set aside, and the matter has been remanded for fresh evaluation.”

Santosh Kumar Singh, a former law student and son of a senior police officer, was convicted in 2006 after a long legal battle that began with an initial acquittal. The gruesome crime, committed in 1996, drew national outrage and became one of the most high-profile cases of justice delayed but not denied.

The Sentence Review Board, which previously denied Singh's petition for early release, will now be required to reassess his case in light of the High Court’s observation regarding his apparent reformation during incarceration.

The court’s order does not guarantee release but opens the door for a re-evaluation based on behavioral improvement, time served, and other statutory criteria. Legal experts note that this move underscores the importance of reformative justice in the Indian penal system.