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Aarushi murder accused leave India
Krishna and Rajkumar, prime accused in the Noida double murder case, have left for Nepal following their release on bail, raising questions over the fate of the case, report HT Correspondents.
Raj Kumar Sharma, one of the three main accused in the Noida twin murder case, allegedly left the country for Nepal around two weeks ago.
This could prove as a setback for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)’s probe.
Sharma and two others are accused of molesting and killing 14-year-old Aarushi Talwar and also killing the family’s domestic help, Hemraj, on May 15, in the Talwars’ Noida residence.
The CBI court had granted bail to Sharma and another accused, medical assistant Krishna Thadarai, who worked with Talwar’s father dentist Rajesh, after the investigating agency could not submit chargesheet against them within the stipulated 90-day deadline that lapsed on September 10.
The court asked Sharma to furnish two personal sureties worth Rs 25,000 and a personal bond and to present himself before the case’s investigating officer (IO) if and when required.
Confirming this to HT, Sharma’s lawyer Naresh Yadav said, “Rajkumar has left for Nepal. We are in constant touch with him and his family members over the phone.”
When asked if his departure was against the bail terms set by the court that granted him bail, Yadav said, “The court had put no restrictions on his leaving the country explicitly. However, he is bound to appear before the IO when it is required.”
Yadav added, “Raj Kumar’s departure to Nepal would not hamper the ongoing investigations by the CBI in the case.”
When HT contacted Sharma’s brother Mahendra, the latter said, “ I am in Mumbai since September 14, but I know a day earlier Raj Kumar left for Lucknow with mama (maternal uncle).” “The case’s investigating officer did not call Raj Kumar even once after he got bail,” he added.
When asked further about his brother’s departure, Mahendra disconnected the call after saying, “I cannot call up my home right now and neither will I give you my family’s phone number.”
When asked to confirm Sharma’s departure from India and whether that would amount to violation of the bail terms, CBI’s Press Information Officer R.K. Gaur said, “We do not know as of now whether Raj Kumar left for Nepal, it has to be verified. If his departure is in violation of the bail terms, we will take necessary actions against him.”
A senior case investigator, who is not authorised to talk to the media, said if Sharma has violated the bail terms, it would go adversely against him when the case goes to trial.
The third case accused, cook Vijay Mandal, is currently out on bail. Incidentally, there were reports on Thursday about Krishna’s departure to Nepal as well, but it turned out to be wrong. His lawyer F.C. Sharma said, “ Krishna is in India.”
