New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday awarded life imprisonment to former television serial producer Suhaib Ilyasi for killing his wife Anju 17 years ago.

The court ruled out the demand for death sentence saying the case did not fall in the rarest of the rare category. Additional sessions judge S.K. Malhotra imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh on Ilyasi, who was convicted on December 16 for stabbing his wife to death. The court also directed Ilyasi to pay Rs 10 lakh as compensation to parents of his wife. Ilyasi, who was brought from Tihar jail, shouted that he was innocent and the award of life sentence is an “injustice”. During the arguments on sentence, the prosecution sought capital punishment for the former TV producer contending that he gave “a painful death to his wife”. Further, the prosecutor said that Ilyasi who was supposed to be a protector became a killer and the case fell within the realms of rarest of rare. Ilyasi’s counsel sought leniency saying he has faced around 18-year-long trial and three months in custody.

The counsel also said that he (Ilyasi) never violated the bail conditions, successfully run magazines covering bureaucrats and has no criminal antecedents. The conviction under section 302 of IPC for murder entails punishment either life imprisonment or death.

Earlier, Ilyasi was only charged with milder sections including 304 B (dowry death) of the IPC. However, Anju’s mother Rukma Singh and sister Rashmi Singh moved the Delhi high court which in August 2014 ruled that the TV producer would be tried under Section 302 for murder.

Anju was rushed to a hospital on January 11, 2000 with stab wounds she received at her East Delhi residence.

Meanwhile, Anju Singh’s mother on Wednesday  expressed satisfaction over the life term awarded to Ilyasi. Rukma Singh, who arrived from Patna to attend Wednesday’s proceedings, said, “I’m satisfied with the verdict. As long as he is convicted I'm fine.”

Her lawyer Satender Sharma said that Rukma had met her granddaughter, currently in Ilyasi's custody, in 2008 on her birthday, adding that she had visiting rights and used to meet her on special occasions.

India’s Most Wanted, the popular crime-reality TV show, helped police nab criminals. The show began airing in 1999 on Zee TV but came to an abrupt halt just a year later when anchor Suhaib Ilyasi was arrested.

Jan 10, 2000: Anju Ilyasi found dead at their East Delhi residence with multiple stab wounds.
Jan 18, 2000: A panel of doctors at AIIMS says that the injuries on the victim appear self-inflicted and suicidal.
March 28, 2000: Suhaib Ilyasi arrested on charges of dowry harassment and murder levelled by sister-in-law and mother- in-law.
October, 2002: Charge sheet filed against Ilyasi for dowry death.
March 29, 2003: Trial court frames charges under Section 498A and 304B of the IPC against Ilyasi.
July 17: Prosecutor filed application in trial court for adding murder charge.
Feb. 3, 2004: Trial court dismisses the application.
July 12, 2005: Victim’s mother moves application for fresh investigation.
August 4: Application dismissed.
August 19, 2010: Plea to add murder charge filed again.
Feb. 19, 2011: Trial court rejects the plea. Ilyasi’s mother-in-law moves Delhi HC seeking framing of additional charge of murder.
May, 2012: A new medical board set up to look into injuries suffered by Ilyasi’s wife.
Jan. 5, 2013: Ilyasi moves HC objecting to constitution of a new medical board.
Jan. 7, 2013: HC stays order for a fresh medical board after Ilyasi challenges the order.
Aug. 12, 2014: HC dismisses Ilyasi’s objection to the fresh medical board and allows adding of murder charge. Ilyasi moves SC against the order.
Aug. 21: SC dismisses Ilyasi’s challenging HC order asking him to face murder charges for his wife’s death.
Dec. 16, 2017: Delhi court convicts Ilyasi of stabbing his wife to death.
Dec 20: Court sentences Ilyasi to life imprisonment.