GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 11th Sept. At approximately 3 PM on September 10, 2024, the Delhi High Court witnessed a flurry of activity as a high-profile case reached a critical juncture. The courtroom, filled to capacity with spectators and legal professionals, was abuzz with anticipation over a petition seeking relief for a convict sentenced to 24 years in prison.
The court’s sudden announcement that no relief would be granted stirred significant commotion. The convict in question is Sonu Punjaban, born Geeta Arora. Known infamously as the “Lady Don,” Sonu Punjaban was notorious for orchestrating one of the largest sex trafficking rings in Delhi-NCR.
On July 22, 2020, Sonu Punjaban was convicted under the POCSO Act for forcing a minor into prostitution and sentenced to 24 years in prison. The court’s decision underscored that Sonu Punjaban had no place in civilized society and had crossed all bounds of decency. This case marked the first time Sonu Punjaban was convicted and sentenced, despite her involvement in numerous other legal cases.
Sonu Punjaban’s criminal history reveals a deep-seated connection with the underworld. Her descent into crime began in 2003 with her marriage to gangster Vijay Singh, who was killed later that year by the UP STF. Subsequently, Sonu entered into a relationship with another criminal, Deepak, who was also killed in an encounter. Following Deepak’s death, she married his brother, gangster Hemant, who was killed by the Delhi police in April 2006.
After Hemant’s death, Geeta Arora adopted the alias Sonu Punjaban and fully immersed herself in the sex trade. Her first arrest for prostitution came in 2007, followed by another in 2008. By 2011, Sonu faced charges under the MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act).
Sonu Punjaban’s criminal activities involved trafficking girls aspiring to careers in film and modeling. She targeted vulnerable girls, lured them into prostitution, and supplied them across states. She employed a network of individuals to facilitate the transportation and security of these girls, who catered to a clientele of high-profile individuals.
The case that led to her 24-year sentence involved Sonu Punjaban purchasing a minor from Sandeep Bedwal. She kept the girl captive, drugged her to prevent resistance, and forced her into prostitution before selling her to a contact in Lucknow. The court, in its ruling, condemned Sonu Punjaban’s actions as extreme cruelty and a severe violation of human dignity.
The court emphasized that a woman who engages in such egregious acts cannot be afforded any leniency and must remain imprisoned. The judgment declared that Sonu Punjaban, with her heinous crimes, had no right to live among or be regarded as part of civilized society.
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