Poonia family murder case convict ‘distorting facts’ to gain sympathy: Victims’ kin in SC

Hisar: The family of the victims in the Relu Ram Poonia family murder case has challenged convict Sonia's claims of mental illness and alleged poisoning attempts before the Supreme Court.During Monday's proceedings, the family filed a detailed rejoinder opposing the reply submitted earlier by Sonia and her husband, Sanjeev Kumar, another convict, accusing them of trying to "portray themselves as victims" despite the brutality of the crime. Former MLA Poonia and seven members of his family were killed in Litani village of Hisar district over a property dispute in 2001. Sonia and Sanjeev were convicted and initially sentenced to death by a trial court. In 2014, the Supreme Court commuted their death sentence to life imprisonment. In Dec 2025, Punjab and Haryana high court directed authorities to consider the premature release of the convicts, following which the victims' family approached the Supreme Court challenging the move. Advocates Aina Khowal, appearing for the family, said Sonia's affidavit claiming depression, anxiety, insomnia, and suicidal tendencies contains "serious factual contradictions" and attempts to dilute the gravity of the crime. According to the rejoinder, Sonia exaggerated claims of mental illness, low mood and suicidal thoughts to seek sympathy from the court while ignoring the suffering of the family. The Haryana govt has moved an application seeking time to file its response before the next hearing in July.