Aarushi-Hemraj case: Truth was on our side, says family
Aarushi-Hemraj case: Talwars will be released once the official communication reaches us and formalities are completed, said Dasna Jail officials.
New Delhi: File photo of dentist-couple Nupur Talwar and Rajesh Talwar, who were on Thursday acquitted by the Allahabad High Court in the twin murder case of her daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj. PTI Photo
“After a long stay at Dasna jail, Nupur and Rajesh have finally got justice and they’re coming back home. We welcome the verdict,” said B G Chitnis (84), father of Nupur Talwar. On Thursday, Nupur and her husband Rajesh were acquitted in the murders of their daughter, Aarushi, and domestic help, Hemraj, by the Allahabad High Court.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Chitnis said, “The last nine years have been a great ordeal for us… At this age, to manage the house, and to come to terms with reality, was a struggle for me and my wife. But we were confident that truth was on our side.” In jail, Talwars are acquitted in murder of child and help
Fourteen-year-old Aarushi was found murdered in her bedroom at the family’s residence in Noida’s Jalvayu Vihar. Police had initially suspected Hemraj, but a day later his body was recovered from the terrace of the same flat. The Talwars were then arrested and charged with murder. In November 2013, a special CBI court in Ghaziabad had convicted the two and sentenced them to life imprisonment.
Recalling his last meeting with his daughter and son-in-law at Dasna Jail a fortnight ago, Chitnis said, “They were positive, not anxious… the lawyers had told us how the case was going, what the arguments were like. They were hopeful about the outcome.” Talwars said justice served, were in tears, says Dasna Jail official
Their lawyer, Rebecca John, said: “The first 48 hours are the most crucial during investigation and here we are, talking about it years later. There isn’t much that can be done to take the case further. The CBI couldn’t get any evidence even 15 days after the case. As of now, this is a very complicated legal scenario.” Chitnis added, “We should give them time to grieve the death of their daughter, which they couldn’t earlier.”
Addressing the media outside Azad Apartments, Aarushi’s aunt, Vandana Talwar, said: “We are deeply grateful after the verdict. It has been a very trying time…” In an interview with Vartika Nanda — author of Tinka Tinka Dasna and prison reforms activist— released on Thursday, Nupur had talked about their life in Dasna Jail. “During the day, I try to read something, so that my mind is diverted… Rest of the time, I attend to patients,” she had told Nanda. For Aarushi’s friends, verdict provides closure
When asked about the shape their lives would take if they are acquitted, she had said, “If we can give back to society in some manner, in Aarushi’s name, for children — that is something I would definitely want to do. Same practice, same clinic, same earnings — I don’t think we will ever be able to put our heart into that.”
9 years on
2008
May 16: Aarushi found dead. Dr Rajesh Talwar, files complaint, alleging that their domestic help, Hemraj, had killed her
May 17: Hemraj’s body found on terrace of Talwar’s house
May 23: Rajesh Talwar arrested for the two murders. Meerut Zone IG, Gurdarshan Singh, said there was enough evidence, including cover-up attempts
June 1: CBI takes over probe
June 11: Rajesh Talwar gets bail
June 13: CBI arrests Krishna, the couple’s domestic help
June 26: CBI declares it a “blind case”. Rajesh Talwar refused bail by special magistrate in Ghaziabad
July 12: Rajesh Talwar granted bail from Ghaziabad’s Dasna Jail
2010
Feb 15-20: Narco-analysis tests conducted on Rajesh Talwar
Dec 29: CBI team files closure report, citing “insufficient evidence”. Servants get clean chit, Talwars remain prime suspects
2011
Feb 9: Trial court rejects CBI’s closure report and summons Talwars to face murder charges
Feb 21: Talwars go to Allahabad HC for quashing summons
Mar 18: Allahabad HC junks plea
Mar 19: Couple approach SC
2012
Jan 9: SC says bail granted to Rajesh Talwar by lower court would continue; he should appear before Ghaziabad magistrate on Feb 4 to face trial along with his wife
Feb 4: Trial begins
Nov, 25 2013: Special CBI court convicts couple for double murder, sentences them to life
Oct 12, 2017: Allahabad HC acquits couple
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