CBI moves SC to challenge acquittal of Arushi Talwar's parents

The CBI has approached the Supreme Court against the Allahabad High Court acquittal of doctor couple Rajesh Talwar and Nupur Talwar in the murder of their daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj.

On October 12 last year, a High Court bench of Justice B.K. Narayana and Justice A.K. Mishra acquitted the couple by giving them the benefit of the doubt.

Aarushi, 14, and Hemraj were found murdered at their Jalvayu Vihar home in Noida on May 16, 2008.

The High Court's order came on an appeal by the Talwars against a Ghaziabad CBI court order that handed them life imprisonment on November 26, 2013, bringing an end to a nine-year ordeal of the couple.

Earlier, Hemraj's wife had approached the top court against the High Court acquittal of the couple.

After Aarushi was found murdered in her bedroom, Hemraj was initially considered a suspect. However, his body too was found in a pool of blood a day later on the terrace of the house.

The High Court, while acquitting the Talwar couple, had made comments on the CBI trial court presiding officer, saying he had adopted a "partial and parochial approach" in his 2013 judgment to convict the parents for the double murder.

The court said the trial court's judgment was based on "creation of fanciful reasoning" and "presuming facts with indomitable obstinacy and taking things for granted, and thus basing the conclusion on unfounded evidence".

The Uttar Pradesh Police had accused Rajesh Talwar of killing his daughter in a fit of rage. Rajesh Talwar was arrested on May 23, 2008.

On May 31, 2008, the CBI took over the case and initially absolved the parents but later held them responsible for the two murders.

On June 13, 2008, Rajesh Talwar's compounder Krishna was arrested by the CBI. Ten days later, Raj Kumar, a servant of a doctor friend of the Talwars, and Vijay Mandal, the domestic help of the Talwars' neighbour, were also arrested.

The three were later freed after no evidence was found against them.

--IANS

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