New Delhi, Oct 5 (PTI) The Delhi High Court Friday acquitted former TV anchor and producer Suhaib Ilyasi in his wife's murder case.
A bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel allowed the appeal of Ilyasi challenging his conviction and life imprisonment for killing his wife, Anju, 18 years ago.
"The appeal is allowed," the bench said.
Ilyasi's daughter Aaliya, who was present at the time of pronouncement of the verdict, expressed happiness and said she always had trust in her father.
"I am very very happy. I am not able to express myself much right now. For all this while, we were silent about it because the judgement was yet to come. We have suffered a lot but I trust my father completely and I had always trusted him," she said.
The trial court had on December 20, 2017 sentenced Ilyasi, who had shot into limelight after hosting TV crime show - 'India's Most Wanted', to life term for stabbing his wife to death, saying he "committed murder and gave it a colour of suicide".
The high court, which had on April 26 granted interim bail to Ilyasi, refused to extend the relief on May 14.
He later moved the Supreme Court which also refused to grant him interim bail.
Ilyasi, in his appeal moved through advocate Rajiv Mohan, has claimed that the police had not collected any material for three months after the incident and there was no evidence to charge him for the offence of murder.
The police had claimed that he had misled the investigating agency, proving his involvement in the crime.
It had also imposed a fine of Rs two lakh on him and directed that Rs 10 lakh be paid as compensation to Anju's parents.
Earlier, Ilyasi was charged with milder provisions, including 304 B dowry death) of the IPC.
However, Anju's mother Rukma Singh and sister Rashmi Singh had moved the Delhi High Court which in August 2014 ruled that the former TV producer would be tried under Section 302 of the IPC for the offence of murder.
Anju was rushed to a hospital on January 11, 2000 with stab wounds she received at her East Delhi residence. She was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.
Ilyasi was arrested on March 28, 2000. Charges were framed against him in the case after his sister-in-law and mother-in-law alleged that he used to torture Anju for dowry.
Following is the chronology of events in which the High Court Friday acquitted Suhaib Ilyasi, former TV anchor and producer of the show 'India's Most Wanted', in his wife's murder case:
*Jan 10, 2000: Anju Ilyasi found dead at their East Delhi residence with multiple stab wounds.
*Jan 18 : Panel of doctors at AIIMS says injuries on the victim appear self-inflicted and suicidal.
*Mar 28 : Ilyasi arrested on charges of dowry harassment and murder levelled by sister-in-law and mother- in-law.
*Oct, 2002: Charge sheet filed against Ilyasi for dowry death.
*Mar 29, 2003: Trial court frames charges under Section 498A and 304B of the IPC against Ilyasi.
*Jul 17: Prosecutor files application in trial court for adding murder charge.
*Feb 3, 2004: Trial court dismisses application.
*Jul 12, 2005: Victim's mother moves application for fresh investigation.
*Aug 4: Application dismissed.
*Aug 19, 2010: Plea to add murder charge filed again.
*Feb 19, 2011: Trial court rejects the plea. Ilyasi's mother-in-law moves Delhi High Court seeking framing of additional charge of murder.
*May, 2012: New medical board set up to look into injuries suffered by Ilyasi's wife.
*Jan 5, 2013: Ilyasi moves HC objecting to constitution of new medical board.
*Jan 7, 2013: HC stays order for a fresh medical board after Ilyasi challenges the order.
*Aug 12, 2014: HC dismisses Ilyasi's objection to the fresh medical board and allows adding of murder charge. Ilyasi moves SC against the order.
*Aug 21: SC dismisses Ilyasi's plea challenging HC order asking him to face murder charges for his wife's death.
*Dec 16, 2017: Delhi court finds Ilyasi guilty of stabbing his wife to death.
*Dec 20: Court sentences Ilyasi to life imprisonment.
*Mar 13, 2018: Ilyasi moves HC against life term.
*Mar 15: HC seeks response from Delhi Police on Ilyasi's plea.
*Apr 26, 2018: HC grants interim bail of four weeks to Ilyasi.
*May 14: HC refuses to extend interim bail.
*May 31: SC asks Ilyasi to approach HC for interim bail.
*Aug 17: HC reserves verdict.
*Oct 5: HC acquits Ilyasi.
