New Delhi, Nov 25 (PTI) Following is the timeline of developments in the murder case of television journalist Soumya Vishwanathan. A Delhi court on Saturday sentenced four convicts to life imprisonment and the fifth to three years in jail.

September 30, 2008: Vishwanathan shot dead while returning home from work in her car around 3:30 am. Police claim robbery was the motive behind the killing.

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March 2009: Police claim breakthrough in the case following recovery of weapon used in the killing of IT executive Jigisha Ghosh.

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March 28, 2009: Five men -- Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik, Ajay Kumar and Ajay Sethi -- arrested for killing Vishwanathan.

June 22, 2009: First charge sheet filed against the five accused.

February 6, 2010: Charges framed against the accused under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

May 9, 2011: Charges framed against the accused under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

April 23, 2010: Trial begins, prosecution starts submitting evidence.

February 2019: Malik moves the Delhi High Court with a plea for a speedy trial.

February 6, 2019: Vishwanathan's parents approach Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for a speedy trial in the case.

February 27, 2019: The Delhi High Court orders expeditious trial and directs the trial court to hear the matter at least thrice a week.

March 2022: Prosecution completes submitting evidence. Court begins recording evidence of the accused.

May 2023: Recording of evidence concludes. Final arguments commence.

October 6, 2023: Final arguments by the defence and prosecution conclude.

October 13, 2023: Court reserves its verdict.

October 18, 2023: Kapoor, Shukla, Malik and Kumar convicted for murder and under MCOCA provisions. Sethi convicted for dishonestly receiving stolen property and under MCOCA sections.

November 7, 2023: Court adjourns the matter after noting that the verification of the affidavits filed by the convicts was not complete.

November 24: Court reserves its order on the quantum of sentence after noting that the arguments on sentencing were complete.

November 25: Court sentences Kapoor, Shukla, Malik and Kumar to life imprisonment and Sethi to three years of simple imprisonment.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)