Three days after they were sentenced to life imprisonment,Rajesh and Nupur Talwar have written to the Additional Director General of Police (Prison administration and reform),asking him not to move them out of Dasna Jail. A Ghaziabad court on Monday held the couple guilty for the murder of their 14-year-old daughter Aarushi and domestic aide Hemraj on the night of May 15,2008. Officials said according to procedure,those convicted of crimes with a sentence of seven years imprisonment or more are sent to the Central Jail in Agra. This is because there are more high-security facilities available there,as well as provisions for prisoners who face a life term like the Talwar couple. While there is no fixed timeline,the shift will be as soon as possible,depending on the occupancy status at the Agra jail. Otherwise,if needed,there is no problem in keeping them here as well, Viresh Raj Sharma,Superintendent of Dasna Jail,said. Sources close to the family said the Talwars wrote to the Additional DG,seeking relief from the transfer. In the letter,they have written that since their friends,family and lawyers reside in the National Capital Region,it would be difficult to meet them if they are moved to Agra. The couple intend to file an appeal and for that,lengthy deliberations with lawyers are required, the sources said. Jail Superintendent Sharma confirmed that the Talwars wrote such a letter. But Rajesh Pratap Singh,Additional DG (Prison administration and reform),said he was yet to receive the letter. So far,it has not come to me. I have been informed by the jail superintendent in Dasna that it has been written. As of now,we intend to transfer the couple to Agra and they will not be given special treatment. But if the reasons they cite are acceptable,then it may be considered, he said. Sources said the Talwars have been meeting their lawyer at Dasna,and have been chalking out a strategy for appeal. They intend to contest the order passed by Additional Sessions Judge Shyam Lal on points such as the reversal of burden of proof,factual inaccuracies,the testimony of Bharti Mandal,the maid employed in the house,as well as the CBIs chain of events. Lawyers said they want to prepare a detailed list of arguments before moving the Allahabad High Court.
