Memories of Aarushi, Hemraj fade with time as life goes on at Jalvayu Vihar

For residents of Jalvayu Vihar in Noida, life has moved on since the gruesome double murder of Aarushi and Hemraj more than nine years ago.

Nine-and-a-half years later, the memories of 14-year-old girl Aarushi Talwar and domestic help Hemraj Banjade have faded to a large extent.

The Jalvayu Vihar residence of Rajesh and Nupur Talwar in Noida on Thursday — the day the high court acquitted the dentist couple in the 2008 double murder of their daughter, Aarushi, and their help, Hemraj.(Virendra Singh Gosain/HT Photo)

But neem trees, named in the memory of the two, grow at a garden near the L-32 flat in Jalvayu Vihar, Sector 25, Noida — where the Talwars lived.

The double murder of Aarushi and Hemraj on May 16, 2008 sent shockwaves through the locality. As the investigation began, every nook and corner of Jalvayu Vihar reverberated with several theories behind the mysterious deaths. An intense media coverage that followed, also contributed to several theories about the double murder.

“People started making their own theories. On the day she was found dead, Talwar’s domestic help, Hemraj Banjade, was missing and he became the initial suspect. A day later, when his body was discovered on the terrace of their residence, her parents, Dr Rajesh Talwar and Dr Nupur Talwar, became the prime suspects,” (retired) Navy commander Narendra Mohan, who has lived in the neighbourhood since 1994 told HT.

“Rumours in the locality, different theories behind the double murders, also affected police investigation. Police started believing some select rumours and proceeded into the matter,” he said.

However, those who closely know the family could not believe the theory that the doctor couple murdered their only child and the domestic help, he added.

Deepali, a relatively newer resident of Jalvayu Vihar, who owns a house in the same block, said, “When we bought a home two years back in this block, we did not knew that Aarushi lived here, but later came to know about it. But the incident is a thing of past now. Things have changed and no one really talks about it, except the news channels.”

Talwar’s house which was rented out is now occupied by a young couple who live with their three dogs. “The incident happened nine years back, we knew about it when we were shifting into the house. But it doesn’t affect us in any way. We live happily with our pets,” said Keshay Panjwani, the new occupant of Talwar’s residence.