Aarushi murder: Talwars held guilty

A special CBI court Monday ruled that dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar were guilty of murdering their teenaged daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj five years ago in one of the most followed crime cases in India.

Delivering the much awaited verdict at 3.25 p.m., Special CBI Judge Shyam Lal said the quantum of punishment would be pronounced Tuesday.

Immediately after the judgment, the Talwars broke down. But in a statement released by their lawyer, they said they were "deeply disappointed" and vowed to fight for justice.

The Talwars were booked under sections 302 (murder), 34 (acts done by several persons in futherance of common intention) and 201 (destruction of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code.

The court also booked Rajesh Talwar under section 203 (misleading the probe).

The couple was then taken away by police to the Dasna Jail in Ghaziabad.

The Talwars said they were "deeply disappointed".

"We are deeply disappointed, hurt and anguished for being convicted for a crime that has not been committed. We refuse to feel defeated and will continue to fight for justice," the statement said.

On May 16, 2008, the 14-year-old Aarushi was found dead in her dentist parents' Noida residence. The next day, police recovered the body of their domestic help Hemraj was found from their terrace.