Life imprisonment to two for murder

New Delhi, Feb 3 (IANS) A city court Wednesday sentenced two men, a Nepali included, to rigorous life imprisonment for killing a retired lieutenant general and his wife while committing robbery at their house in 2004. Additional Sessions Judge Poonam A. Bamba also fined Rs.15,000 each on Bharat Bhandari,

a Nepalese national who worked at the victims\' house, and his Indian accomplice Pradeep Dutta.    
    
 The judge rejected the prosecution\'s plea for death penalty.   
    
 Harnam Singh Seth, a retired army officer, and his wife Roop Seth were found murdered in their Vasant Enclave house in south Delhi on the night of June 19-20, 2004. The old and ailing victims became easy targets because their kith and kin were not living with them, the court said.    
    
 During the probe, police suspected the complicity of Bhandari as he was missing after the incident was reported. Later, the accused broke down and confessed committing the crime.    
    
 Dutta was arrested subsequently. Over 30 prosecution witnesses, including the daughter-in-law of the victims, deposed in the case.