Punia murder case: Sanjeev's bail bonds submitted in Hisar court

Over two decades after the murder of former legislator Relu Ram Punia and seven family members by his daughter Sonia and her husband Sanjeev Kumar, Kumar’s mother submitted his bail bonds before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Rajiv Kumar here today.

After the verification, the court issued Kumar's release orders, which were sent to the jail authorities via email. Bail bonds for Sonia could not be submitted on Friday, sources said.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered their release on interim bail pending decision on their premature release by the competent authority.

However, despite the release order, Kumar could not walk free because bail bonds in a case related to a parole-jump in Bilaspur, Uttar Pradesh, were not filed there. Advocate RS Khatana, representing Kumar, said his mother Rajbiri Devi and uncle Rajender, residents of Saharanpur (UP), had furnished bail bonds of Rs 1 lakh each.

It is unclear whether release orders had been issued in another case related to the alleged attempt to construct a tunnel inside the jail. Khatana said Sonia’s bail bonds would be submitted shortly.

On the night of August 23, 2001, eight members of the family were murdered at their farmhouse in Litani village in the district.