Court to announce quantum of sentence today; Judge questions convict on moral accountability

Ramkrishan Upadhyay
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 28, 2025

In a significant judgment bringing closure to a 15-year-old case, the Fast-Track Special Court in Chandigarh on Thursday convicted a taxi driver of raping and murdering 21-year-old MBA student Neha Ahlawat, whose killing in 2010 had sparked public outrage and demands for speedier justice in crimes against women.

Presiding Judge Dr. Yashika held the accused guilty under charges of rape, murder, and destruction of evidence. The judgment came after years of legal delays, witness examinations, forensic reviews, and multiple rounds of arguments presented by both sides.

Judge’s remark to convict draws attention

Before reading out the verdict, Judge Yashika directly addressed the accused, posing a pointed question that resonated through the packed courtroom:

“What would you say to God for perpetrating the rape and murder of a 21-year-old girl?”

The remark underscored the gravity of the crime and the court’s view of the brutality inflicted on the young student, who was pursuing an MBA when her life was cut short.

Case background

Neha Ahlawat had gone missing in 2010 while returning from her institute. Her body was later recovered from a secluded area, and police investigations had led to the arrest of a taxi driver who was last seen transporting her.
Investigators had cited forensic evidence, call records, and witness testimonies as key components of the prosecution’s case. Despite multiple attempts by the defence to challenge the evidence, the court upheld the prosecution’s arguments in its final findings.

Families seek justice

Members of Neha’s family, present in court for the verdict, expressed relief that the long legal struggle had finally resulted in a conviction.
“It has taken us 15 years, but at least the truth has prevailed,” a family member said outside the courtroom.

Quantum of sentence today

The court will hear arguments on sentencing today, with the prosecution likely to press for the maximum punishment, citing the brutality of the crime and the prolonged suffering of the victim’s family.
The accused, meanwhile, is expected to present mitigating circumstances in an attempt to seek leniency.

The case remains one of Chandigarh’s longest-running crime trials involving violence against women and is seen as a test of the justice system’s ability to deliver closure despite delays.