CBI still groping for clues in Aarushi murder case

The weapon used in the crime and mobile phones of Aarushi and her murdered domestic help Hemraj are yet to be recovered resulting in almost complete halt in the investigation.

“CBI cannot create evidence, but only collect,” Kumar said.

Sources said failure to protect the crime scene in the first few days of the double murder led to the loss of several pieces of crucial evidence.

When the CBI finally took over the case from Uttar Pradesh Police, more than a fortnight after the May 16 crime, the case was already weak, they said.

“What the CBI now looking for is some missing links. Once that could be done, everything will be solved within no time,” a senior official said.

Fifteen-year-old Aarushi Talwar and her family help Hemraj were found murdered in their Noida apartment on May 16. The case drew nationwide attention when on May 23, deceased Aarushi’s father dentist Rajesh Talwar was arrested by the local police in connection with the murder.

The CBI took over the probe on May 31.

Subsequently, the dentist’s compounder Krishna and two neighbours’ domestic helps Raj Kumar and Vijay Mandal were arrested by the CBI.

Talwar was let off on bail on July 11 after the CBI informed the court that it had found no evidence against him.

On September 9, the CBI announced that it would not file a chargesheet in the case within 90 days as investigations were not complete.

“The investigation of this case will continue. The CBI will file its report under section 173 Criminal Procedure Code only on conclusion of investigation. The full facts of the case will be presented before the court,” CBI Deputy Director (Coordination) Neerja Gotru said on September 9.

In heinous cases including murder, an accused has right of bail if the chargesheet is not filed within 90 days of arrest. So, all the accused were subsequently released from jail on bail.