Geeta Arora also known as Sonu Punjaban is an Indian convicted sex trafficker who was sentenced to 24 years of imprisonment for trafficking a minor girl.[1][2]

Sonu Punjaban
Born
Geeta Arora

1981 (age 42–43)
Criminal statusImprisoned at Tihar Jail[1][2]
SpouseVijay Singh (d.2003)[1][2]
Children1
Conviction(s)Sex Trafficking[1][2]
Criminal penalty24 years imprisonment

Biography edit

Sonu married gangster Vijay Singh in 2003 who was encountered by Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force soon after their marriage.[3] Then she got involved with Deepak who also encountered by the police in Assam.[3] She then married Deepak's brother Hemant Sonu who was also killed in police encounter in April 2006.[4]

Arresting edit

Sonu was arrested in 2007 under the sections of Immoral Traffic Prevention Act but soon got bail and she was arrested once again 2008 for the same offense.[4] She was again arrested under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act in 2011. She was finally arrested in 2017 and has been in Tihar Jail since then.

2020 conviction edit

On 16 July 2020, Sonu was convicted under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act for forcefully administering drugs to a minor girl so that she could be sexually exploited. The minor girl had given her statement to the police on 9 February 2014.[5] Additionally, the court sentenced co-accused Sandeep Bedwal to 20 years of imprisonment.[4]

Sonu attempted suicide while still in Tihar Jail, hours after she was convicted. She was hospitalized in Deen Dayal Upadhayay Hospital and was shifted back to the jail when her condition stabilized.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Sonu Punjaban gets 24 years imprisonment for immoral trafficking". The Hindu. PTI. 2020-07-23. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  2. ^ a b c d "Sex racketeer Sonu Punjaban jailed for 24 years by Delhi court for forcing 12-year-old into prostitution". Zee News. 2020-07-22. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  3. ^ a b "Sonu Punjaban: Rise and fall of notorious flesh trader who exposed Delhi's dark side". India Today. July 22, 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  4. ^ a b c "Who is Geeta Arora aka Sonu Punjaban?". The Indian Express. 2020-07-23. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  5. ^ "Woman Sent To 24 Years In Jail In Human Trafficking Case In Delhi". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  6. ^ "Sonu Punjaban overdoses in Tihar Jail after conviction". Hindustan Times. 2020-07-19. Retrieved 2020-07-27.