NEW DELHI: Moninder Singh Pandher, who has been awarded death sentence by the trial court in the Nithari serial killings case, has pleaded the Supreme Court to shift him to Chandigarh where his family members live, citing that he had not been able to meet them in last 13 years as it is not safe for them to visit him in Dasna jail in Ghaziabad where he is lodged.
Pandher has been convicted in some cases arising out of the Nithari serial killings and acquitted in some others. In two cases where the trial court awarded death sentence, his appeal is pending in the Allahabad High Court. Sixteen cases were lodged against Pandher and his domestic help Surender Koli for serial killings in 2005 and 2006.
Agreeing to hear his plea for transfer to Chandigarh jail, a bench of Justices A S Bopanna and Sudhanshu Dhulia issued notice to CBI, Uttar Pradesh government and Chandigarh administration seeking their response on the petition filed by advocate Ajay Pal for Pandher.
He said trial proceedings in all cases have been completed and his personal presence was not needed in proceedings in the case pending in HC. He pleaded sympathy from court considering his behaviour in jail has been exemplary. He said many convicts lodged in Dasna jail are being shifted to other jails for it being overcrowded and his transfer plea be also considered.