The Delhi High Court is set to deliver its verdict today, July 2, 2025, on the plea by Santosh Kumar Singh—the convict serving life for the 1996 rape and murder of law student Priyadarshini Mattoo—for premature release or remission. Justice Sanjeev Narula had reserved the judgment on May 14, after hearing Singh’s arguments alongside opposing submissions from the state .

Singh, who has spent around 25 years in prison (including remission and time in an open jail), moved the court in 2023 to quash the Sentence Review Board’s (SRB) decision from October 21, 2021, and again on September 18, 2024, which denied his plea for early release . His legal team, led by Senior Advocate Mohit Mathur, argued that Singh has shown “satisfactory conduct,” demonstrated reformation, and no longer poses a threat to society. They emphasized that he has lost his potential to reoffend and could be a “useful member of society,” noting that he’s already being held in an open jail .

Should the HC grant the petition, Singh may be released from his life sentence before completing the full prescribed term. If the petition is rejected, he will continue his incarceration with the possibility of future remission attempts through the SRB.
This hearing marks a pivotal moment in legal discussions around long-term prisoners and the criteria for remission, especially in high-profile cases.

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