2014 techie rape-murder: Mumbai Crime branch analysing SC’s judgement, plans to file a review against SC verdict acquitting accused

Officials from the Mumbai police also alleged that they are trying to understand whether they can file an appeal against the order or if they could ask the Supreme Court to review it.

“We will also be consulting our legal and judiciary team,” a senior officer said.

Speaking with The Indian Express on Tuesday, the uncle of the 23-year-old techie asked authorities for an answer on who killed their kin in 2014.

When asked whether the Crime Branch will set up a team to trace the culprit again, an officer added, “There have been multiple cases where the accused have been acquitted because the judges believed there was insufficient evidence to prove guilt. So, do we go and look for another suspect, knowing this person committed the crime?”

Police officials who were part of the investigation team were also shocked by the verdict pronounced by the Supreme Court. “The trial court heard the matter and awarded a death penalty to Sanap. The Bombay High Court upheld the decision, but the Supreme Court has allowed him to walk free due to a lack of evidence. A special investigation team was formed then to trace the culprit, and the verdict has shocked everyone,” said a retired officer, part of the investigation team.

Another officer added, “I have read the judgment, which runs over 100 pages, and it shows how things can go wrong when multiple agencies are investigating the case.”

“Like in this case, we were conducting a parallel investigation, while the Kanjurmarg police, under whose jurisdiction the woman’s body was found, were the primary investigating agency. They retrieved the initial CCTV footage in which the techie was seen walking with Sanap at LTT railway station, but they did not follow due procedure when including the footage as part of the evidence. This is one of the grounds on which the Supreme Court acquitted Sanap,” the officer added.

The 23-year-old techie from Hyderabad went missing on January 5 after arriving in Mumbai from her hometown, where she had gone to celebrate Christmas with her family. On January 16, her remains were recovered from the bushes near Tata Nagar Colony on the Eastern Express Highway in Bhandup (East). The SIT located Sanap, who the police claimed was responsible for her death, and arrested him in Nashik after CCTV footage revealed that the techie was last seen walking with him at the station.

“Every time I pass through the area on the Eastern Express Highway (the spot where her body was found), the woman’s photo comes to mind. Since the verdict was passed on Tuesday, I have started to feel that justice has not been served for her,” an investigating officer said.