He's innocent: Pandher's son

GHAZIABAD: Describing his father, Moninder Singh Pandher, as a "fine, innocent man'', Karandeep Singh Pandher blamed the media for his conviction on Thursday for the rape and murder of 14-year-old Rimpa Halder.
"I thank the media for their help thanks to them, a fine innocent man has been sent to jail. Thank you very much!'' said an angry Karandeep Singh.
The CBI had in its May 2007 chargesheet accused Koli of abduction, rape and murder of Haldar and exonerated Pandher.But the court after hearing the defence argument in July 2007 charged Pandher too with rape and murder.
After the conviction was announced, Moninder Singh Pandher's wife Devinder Kaur and son burst into tears.
Karandeep hugged his father and said: "Sorry Papa, I could not save you.'' Pandher replied: "Don't cry?''
Asked if the verdict surprised him, Pandher's son said: "I will not say anything on this. I feel what anyone whose innocent father was sent to jail would feel,'' he said.
Karndeep had said in an interview to a publication once that his father was "the most normal person you could meet, gentle and sober'' and refused to accept his portrayal as a "monster''.
Pandher has, in fact, been an enigma. His friends and classmates from Bishop Cotton School in Shimla and St Stephen's College in Delhi had described him as a thorough gentleman who came from an affluent and prosperous family, expanded his family business and seemed to have been battling domestic discord. Why he chose to sink into sexual depravity has not been understood yet.
TNN and agencies