MEERUT, Feb. 22 -- A district court in Meerut on Friday sentenced a couple, Umesh Kumar alias Sonu and his wife Poonam, to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of property dealer Ravishankar Singhal. The court also imposed a fine of Rs.10,000 on each of them, bringing an end to the nine-year-long legal battle.

The couple was found guilty of setting Ravishankar Singhal, his son Himanshu, and his nephew Yash on fire over a dispute related to house possession. Ravishankar succumbed to his injuries during treatment, while Himanshu and Yash sustained severe burns but survived, said additional district government counsel (ADGC) Padam Singh.

During the trial, the prosecution presented 10 witnesses, and Ravishankar's dying declaration played...