CBI asks court to dismiss Talwar plea seeking fingerprint tapes

In their reply,which was given to the court on Monday,R K Saini,senior CBI prosecutor,said,“The tape is not with the CBI,but with the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL). Further,once the fingerprints are transferred to paper,the tape loses its relevance. The paper,on which the fingerprints are recorded,is part of the case files,which the defence counsel has access to. Also,on the first day of hearing,a forensic scientist from CFSL appeared in court,but was not asked any of these questions. A separate witness,the police photographer Chunni Lal,who does not have any relation to these aspects of the case,was questioned about these details. We seek that this application be dismissed.”

In response to another application filed by the defence on Thursday,the CBI said they had no objections in handing over all 230 photographs that were taken from the crime scene. Additional Sessions Judge Shyam Lal is expected to issue directions on both applications on Tuesday.

Although unrelated to the merits of the case,the CBI counsel moved another application in the Sessions court asking for compliance with a Supreme Court order which directed the trial to be held in camera with only the accused,the witnesses and the relevant counsel present.

The CBI filed the application after they objected to a lawyer of the Ghaziabad court,Sanjay Tyagi,speaking to the witnesses produced by the prosecution. The CBI counsel said the lawyer concerned had no locus standi in the case,and should not be allowed in the courtroom as per the SC order.

Arushi Talwar (14) was found murdered at her parents’ Noida residence on May 16,2008. Their domestic help Hemraj’s body was found the next day on the terrace of the house.