Noida double murder case

On May 16, 2008, Aarushi Talwar, a 14-year-old Class IX student of Delhi Public School in Noida and the daughter of a successful dentist couple, was found dead with her throat slit in her parents' home at Jalvayu Vihar in [Noida, Uttar Pradesh]. Suspicion immediately fell on the f-wing the trail of blood, Noida police found the dead body of the missing domestic help, Hemraj, on the terrace. K.K. Gautam said that he saw some clues in Arushi Talwar’s bedroom. However, he did not reveal the full extent of what he understood he saw. Police investigations were on-going and details could not be revealed for fear of hampering the investigation. After a disorganized investigation, the police arrested Dr. Rajesh Talwar, the father of the deceased girl (works at Fortis Hospital in Noida) on May 23, 2008, charging him with having committed the double murder. He confessed to killing Aarushi and Hemraj to the Police on the night of his arrest but later retracted his confession. His wife, Dr. Nupur Talwar(Arushi Talwar’s mother, runs a dental clinic), accused the Noida police of framing him, and requested Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).This was done at the behest of the media attention on the case. Furthermore there were reports of the case being handed over to the CBI.

The Central Bureau of Investigation took over the investigation into the murders of Aarushi and Hemraj on June 1, 2008, forming a 25-member team in an attempt to crack the case. Soon after the CBI took over the case, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati gave transfer orders to senior police officers who were part of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that had previously been in charge of the investigation, including the Noida Senior Superintendent of Police, Satish Ganesh, and Meerut Inspector General, Gurdarshan Singh. and family In addition, the deputation of CBI officer Arun Kumar, formerly a member of the Uttar Pradesh Police, who was in charge of the investigation also ended in July, 2008.[1]

Contents

Significance of the Case

The case received nationwide attention, and has become symptomatic of what most people believe are recent unsavoury tendencies in the Indian media, such as sensationalism , the urge to "overkill" and to carry out a public trial-by-media.[2] The Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Renuka Chowdhury, condemned the police for what she called the "character assassination" of a child victim and called for a commission of legal experts to investigate whether specific legislation existed or needed to passed in order to allow filing of defamation suits against the Noida police, a government agency.[3] In addition, the focus by 24-hour cable news on speculative aspects of the personal lives of the father and his dead daughter, and the media frenzy that compromised the privacy of the families involved in the case has caused comparisons to be made to the JonBenet Ramsey case in the United States.[4] The case has also attracted a lot of public attention as a bizarre whodunit,[5] with the CBI reporting that the agency had been receiving a large number of telephone calls from members of the general public, giving investigators ideas and advice on how to solve the case.[6] I n addition, the story hit the blog-o-sphere in a major way with many Indian bloggers avidly and enthusiastically blogging about the murder mystery[7]

CBI: Getting there

CBI Investigation

CBI investigators charged the Noida police with a shoddy investigation, which, it claimed, had resulted in the destruction of 90% of the evidence on the crime scene. The reasons for this shoddy investigation should be investigated. Perhaps, the reasons lie in the lack of trained staff to conduct a full proof investigation, not only in Uttar Pradesh but in the entire country.

Aside from not capturing the finger prints on the whisky bottles in Hemraj's room, the police allowed the media to freely roam the crime scene rather than restricting access to the flat.

In addition, the police allowed doctors, not specifically trained in forensic pathology, to conduct the autopsies of Hemraj and Aarushi. While it is established procedure to lift fingerprints (of both murderers and victims) from the skin of the victims.[8] the doctors entrusted with the autopsies neglected to call forensic scientists to lift fingerprints from the cadavers. On August 11, 2008, the CBI reported that it had evidence pointing to the presence of a fifth person in the house at the time of the murders, as finger prints not matching any of the suspects or occupants of the house were found on the whisky bottles.

Experts at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), who are working closely with the CBI, have raised questions over one entry in Arushi’s post mortem report. The report, dated May 16 and prepared by Sunil Dore for the Noida police, mentions “whitish discharge” from the vagina which AIIMS doctors say wasn’t investigated. They have raised this issue with the CBI.

“It is the duty of the doctors and the investigating officer to collect all biological evidence. As per law, it is mandatory to write about it in the post mortem report which is legal evidence. But in this case no further investigation was done on the evidence that they got from natural orifices,” Sudhir Gupta, associate professor, forensic medicine, AIIMS, told The Indian Express.

The post mortem report says that various organs including stomach with contents, samples from small intestine, gall bladder, spleen and one kidney were preserved, sealed and sent for examination to rule out poisoning.

“However, the report doesn’t mention whether a vaginal swab was sent for further investigation,” said Gupta. “The whitish discharge could be attributed to several causes, from a fungal infection, common at this age, to even sexual assault. But in a murder case, this was a serious biological finding which required deliberation. No such type of biological evidence was collected and sealed by the doctor who prepared the autopsy,” he added.

Sources in the agency emphasised that unlike in an "unoccured case" where a closure report is filed because the incident under investigation was not found to have occurred, the report filed in the Aarushi case does not shut the possibility of renewed investigation if a new, strong evidence comes up. Pinaki Mishra, Dr Talwar's counsel, strongly reacted to the closure report, calling it a pack of innuendos. "This is the most unfair verdict that could have been given. They (Talwars) are being pronounced guilty until proved innocent. Without having filed a chargesheet, the CBI is condemning them to live the life of a guilty. I have no doubt that the entire investigation is derailed by taking the line of UP police - just damn them without evidence," he said.

The CBI does not debunk the defence of Talwars completely, with sources acknowledging that the probe failed to establish the motive behind the murder. They also said the dummy run conducted by them to verify Talwars' claim that they could not have heard of what was happening in the next room because of noise from their AC, shows that they could have slept through the crime. It also says the narco tests run on the couple show only "minor deceptions". But the report lists "circumstantial evidence" to say why they continue to treat Dr Rajesh Talwar as the prime suspect in the case. Sources claim the "circumstantial evidence" is so strong that Dr Talwar could have been chargesheeted had he not been a parent. The closure report says the crime scene was "dressed up" before the police was called—something that is not associated with a regular criminal.

Sources said that Noida police's failure to secure the crime scene was another reason why the agency was left only with circumstantial evidence. Blood stain on the whisky bottle found in Talwars' house did not match the samples of either Aarushi or Hemraj. The report asserts that both Aarushi and Hemraj died of injuries from a blunt weapon, and that the cuts on their neck were post-mortem; inflicted when they were already dead.

Timeline of the Case

May 16, 2008

May 17, 2008

May 18, 2008

May 19, 2008

May 21, 2008

May 22, 2008

May 23, 2008

June 13, 2008

June 14, 2008

June 19, 2008

June 17, 2008

June 20, 2008

June 23, 2008

June 25, 2008

June 26, 2008

June 27, 2008

June 28, 2008

June 30, 2008

June 31, 2008

July 2, 2008

July 3, 2008

July 6, 2008

July 7, 2008

July 9, 2008

July 10, 2008

July 11, 2008

July 12, 2008

July 15, 2008

July 16, 2008

July 18, 2008

July 19, 2008

July 21

July 22, 2008

July 25, 2008

July 31, 2008

August 8, 2008

August 9, 2008

September 4, 2009

The Central Forensic Laboratory in Hyderabad releases a report that Aarushi's vaginal samples were substituted with those of an unknown woman. The correct samples could have helped to establish who killed the teenager, and whether she was sexually assaulted before being stabbed. The clothes that Aarushi was found in were soaked in blood. But the forensic lab received clean clothes.

September 14, 2009

Delhi police recovers Aarushi's mobile phone in Bulandshahr. (ref) India TV news 16/7/09 [18]

Jan 5, 2010.

May 16, 2010.

July 21, 2010.

December 29, 2010

January 3, 2011

January 25, 2011

January 30, 2011

February 9, 2011

March 8, 2011

March 18, 2011

March 21, 2011

March 25, 2011

April 08, 2011

April 11, 2011

April 15, 2011

April 22, 2011

April 23, 2011

April 27, 2011

June 15, 2011

References

CBI report blames Aarushi's dad http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/125209/India/cbi-report-blames-aarushis-dad.html

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  2. ^ "Spotlight turns on media overkill". Gulf Times. 2008-06-06. http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=220780&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22. Retrieved 2008-06-06. 
  3. ^ Correspondent, Special (2008-06-03). "Give Child Victims Due Respect". The Hindu: pp. 11. http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/03/stories/2008060360131100.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-06. 
  4. ^ Singh, Madhur; New Delhi (2008-05-29). "India's JonBenet Ramsey Case?". Time Magazine. ISSN 0040-718X. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1810162,00.html. Retrieved 2008-06-06. 
  5. ^ Bhattacharya, Priyanka (2008-06-16). "Aarushi case makes every Indian curious". NDTV.com, NATION: pp. 1. http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080053173. Retrieved 2008-07-04. 
  6. ^ Baweja, Harinder; New Delhi (2008-06-28). "Two Funerals And A Hundred Blunders". Tehelka Magazine. http://www.tehelka.com/story_main39.asp?filename=Ne280608coverstory.asp. Retrieved 2008-06-23. 
  7. ^ "Blogs about: Aarushi Hemraj Murder Case". Wordpress.com. 2008-06-24. http://wordpress.com/tag/aarushi-hemraj-murder-case/. Retrieved 2008-06-24. 
  8. ^ Trapecar M, Balazic J. "Fingerprint recovery from human skin surfaces." Sci Justice. 2007 Nov;47(3):136-40. PMID 18051035
  9. ^ Sharma, Aman (2008-07-06). "TALWARS WERE OUT PARTYING ON NIGHT OF KILLINGS". Mail Today. pp. cover story. http://mailtoday.in/. Retrieved 2008-07-07. 
  10. ^ Khandelwal, Peeyush (2008-07-12). "Court sends Vijay Mandal to three-day CBI custody". Hindustan Times. pp. Uttar Pradesh. http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/FullcoverageStoryPage.aspx?sectionName=&id=4393484c-8660-4edb-805d-5ceb09701834Aarushimurder_Special&MatchID1=4725&TeamID1=2&TeamID2=3&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1191&PrimaryID=4725&Headline=Court+sends+Vijay+Mandal+to+3+day+CBI+custody. Retrieved 2008-07-13. 
  11. ^ IANS (2008-07-15). "Aarushi murder: Vijay Mandal in CBI custody for four days". The Times of India. pp. Delhi. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Delhi/Aarushi_murder_Vijay_Mandal_in_CBI_custody_for_four_days/articleshow/3237930.cms. Retrieved 2008-07-16. 
  12. ^ Dutta, Kapil (2008-07-17). "Nepalis bat for Krishna, Rajkumar". Hindustan Times. pp. Uttar Pradesh. http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=&id=d10e8c8b-cd7d-465b-bba9-d5d4bd67c7d9&&Headline=Nepalis+bat+for+Krishna%2c+Rajkumar&strParent=strParentID. Retrieved 2008-07-17. 
  13. ^ Parashar, Sachin (2008-07-19). "CBI still has no real proof in Aarushi case". The Times of India. pp. Delhi. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Delhi/CBI_still_has_no_real_proof_in_Aarushi_case/articleshow/3251910.cms. Retrieved 2008-07-19. 
  14. ^ Roy, Barun (2008-07-21). "Nepal party sees a plot in Aarushi murder case". The Himalayan Beacon. http://beacononline.wordpress.com/2008/07/21/presidential-run-off-today-in-nepal-2/. Retrieved 2008-07-23. 
  15. ^ IANS (2008-07-22). "Apex court cautions media in reporting Aarushi murder case". The Economic Times. pp. Politics/Nation. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Apex_court_cautions_media_in_reporting_Aarushi_murder_case/articleshow/3266121.cms. Retrieved 2008-07-23. 
  16. ^ IANS (2008-07-25). "Judicial custody of Aarushi murder accused extended". Theindian News. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/judicial-custody-of-aarushi-murder-accused-extended_10075951.html. Retrieved 2008-07-26. 
  17. ^ Parashar, Sachin (2008-08-10). "Probe still on in Aarushi case, says new CBI chief". The Times of India. pp. Delhi. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/judicial-custody-of-aarushi-murder-accused-extended_10075951.html. Retrieved 2008-08-10. 
  18. ^ January 1, 2010 Police confirms that Arushi's parents Dr. Rajesh Talwar and Nupur Talwar will undergo a Narco Test. "Aarushi murder: The huge cover-up". NDTV. pp. India. http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/glaring_lapses_in_aarushi_murder_probe.php. Retrieved 2009-09-04. 
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CBI VERSION (Mail Today Bureau | New Delhi, January 1, 2011 | Updated 08:02 IST) Crime scene was dressed up. Suspicion on inmates of the house as no signs of forced entry Dimensions of the injuries on Arushi and Hemraj - 8 by 3 cm - match with those of Rajesh's golf club Rajesh was surfing the internet till 11.50 pm while Arushi was murdered between midnight and 1 am, the post-mortem report says The door of Arushi's room could be opened from either side. The keys were always with Nupur The Talwars got Arushi's room washed after asking the UP Police to rush to the railway station to nab domestic help Hemraj

CANDLE LIGHT MARCH to be held on January 30, 5 p.m. at Delhi- Jantar Mantar,Mumbai- Gateway of India,Kolkata-Victoria Memorial,Chennai-National Art Gallery,Bangalore-Kabban Park,Lucknow- Shahid Smarak,Ahmedabad-Gandhi Ashram,Nagpur-Kastur Chand Park.

The special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Ghaziabad took note of evidence produced against the Talwars by the investigating agency and made them an accused in the sensational murder case.

See also

Snehal Gaware Murder