Father moves Karnataka HC for SIT probe into Sowjanya rape and murder case

A single-judge bench of Justice K Natarajan issued notices to both the investigating agencies on the petition filed by Sowjanya’s father Chandappa.

The petition argued that since the trial court had let off Santhosh Rao, the accused, an SIT ought to be formed to reinvestigate the case to find the culprits. (File photo)

The Karnataka High Court has sought the CBI’s and police’s responses to a petition for an inquiry by a special investigation team into the Sowjanya rape and murder case, in which the trial court had acquitted the accused.

A single-judge bench of Justice K Natarajan issued notices to both the investigating agencies on the petition filed by Sowjanya’s father Chandappa.

The petition argued that since the trial court had let off Santhosh Rao, the accused, an SIT ought to be formed to reinvestigate the case to find the culprits. It also argued the original police investigation had been faulty and that action should be taken against the erring officer.

Justice Natarajan also placed the matter before the Chief Justice for moving it to a division bench.

The high court had rejected a PIL petition filed on similar grounds by other parties for lack of locus standi.

The case dates back to 2012, when the body of Sowjanya, a 17-year-old pre-university student of Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College in Ujire in Dakshina Kannada district, was found near Dharmasthala a day after she went missing.

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