Nearly five-and-a-half years after the sensational killings of teenager Aarushi Talwar and domestic help Hemraj, a special CBI court will tomorrow pronounce its verdict whether her parents are guilty in the case which saw several twists and turns.
Special Judge S Lal, who is retiring soon, will give his decision after a 15-month-long trial of dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, both out on bail at present, on charges of murder and destruction of evidence in the killing of their 14-year-old daughter and servant on the intervening night of May 15-16, 2008 at their Jalvayu Vihar residence in Noida.
The probe followed a sine curve with varied theories from the investigating agencies--Uttar Pradesh Police and CBI--starting with father Rajesh Talwar being a suspect to the domestic servants of their friends and back to the dentist and his wife.
Uttar Pradesh Police started its probe on the premise that Hemraj had killed Aarushi and escaped from the crime scene.
After discovery of Hemraj's body on the terrace of Talwars' flat next day i.E. On May 16, 2008, under dramatic circumstances, the needle of suspicion came on Rajesh who was taken into custody by the UP Police.
The sensational allegations made by UP Police that killer was none other than father of the teenager who acted in rage after finding Aarushi and Hemraj in "objectionable but not compromising" position accentuated media attention.
Amid growing media scrutiny, the then UP Chief Minister Mayawati handed over the case to CBI.
A CBI team under Joint Director Arun Kumar concluded that murders were allegedly committed by Krishna Thadarai- help at Talwar's clinic, his friend Rajkumar-- a domestic servant with Praful and Anita Durrani who were Talwars' friends, and Vijay Mandal, driver of Talwars' neighbour.
These findings were trashed by the then CBI Director Ashwani Kumar who poked holes in the theory by underlining loopholes in the arguments given by Arun Kumar.
Special Judge S Lal, who is retiring soon, will give his decision after a 15-month-long trial of dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, both out on bail at present, on charges of murder and destruction of evidence in the killing of their 14-year-old daughter and servant on the intervening night of May 15-16, 2008 at their Jalvayu Vihar residence in Noida.
The probe followed a sine curve with varied theories from the investigating agencies--Uttar Pradesh Police and CBI--starting with father Rajesh Talwar being a suspect to the domestic servants of their friends and back to the dentist and his wife.
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The case has been under intense media glare throughout and in August 2009 the Supreme Court restrained the media from sensational or scandalous reporting of the matter even as the Talwars accused CBI of changing the course of investigation and purported leaks "damaging" their reputation.
Uttar Pradesh Police started its probe on the premise that Hemraj had killed Aarushi and escaped from the crime scene.
After discovery of Hemraj's body on the terrace of Talwars' flat next day i.E. On May 16, 2008, under dramatic circumstances, the needle of suspicion came on Rajesh who was taken into custody by the UP Police.
The sensational allegations made by UP Police that killer was none other than father of the teenager who acted in rage after finding Aarushi and Hemraj in "objectionable but not compromising" position accentuated media attention.
Amid growing media scrutiny, the then UP Chief Minister Mayawati handed over the case to CBI.
A CBI team under Joint Director Arun Kumar concluded that murders were allegedly committed by Krishna Thadarai- help at Talwar's clinic, his friend Rajkumar-- a domestic servant with Praful and Anita Durrani who were Talwars' friends, and Vijay Mandal, driver of Talwars' neighbour.
These findings were trashed by the then CBI Director Ashwani Kumar who poked holes in the theory by underlining loopholes in the arguments given by Arun Kumar.