CBI questions Aarushi's mother in double murder
A special team of the CBI begins probing the double murder of Noida teenager Aarushi Talwar and domestic help Hemraj with the interrogation of the girl's mother Nupur Talwar.
A special team of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday began probing the double murder of Noida teenager Aarushi Talwar and domestic help Hemraj with the interrogation of the girl's mother Nupur Talwar.
"Since she was one of the four people present in the house when the incident happened, her interrogation can provide vital clues," an investigating official said on condition of anonymity.
Earlier, Nupur went and met her husband Rajesh Talwar, who has been arrested for Aarushi's murder, at Dasna jail. In her absence, the CBI team took samples of blood stains from the walls and inspected the victims' room. The team also inspected the staircases, bedrooms and living room of the house.
Taking every precaution, the agency cordoned off the area around the house in Jal Vayu Vihar in sector-25 of Noida, where the murders took place. Around 90 personnel of the Sashastra Seema Bal have been deployed outside the house and barricades have been erected.
Nobody, including media, was allowed inside as the CBI sleuths interrogated Aarushi's mother and forensic experts investigated the crime scene.
"The chances of getting evidence in the house are very bleak considering the fact that 15 days have already elapsed since the crime. Also some of the evidence may have got destroyed as no precaution was taken by the earlier investigating agencies to protect them. But we do not want to leave anything to chance," the official said .
Fourteen-year-old Aarushi was found dead with her throat slit May 16 morning and the body of servant Hemraj, who was initially suspected of the crime, was found a day later on the terrace.
The CBI is also contemplating interrogating the family's maid, who was one of the first persons to enter the house that morning.
The Noida police arrested dentist Rajesh Talwar for the murders eight days later, saying he first killed the servant and then his daughter after finding them together May 15 night in close quarters "but not compromising position".
The police also said Rajesh killed Aarushi because she had come to know of his extra-marital affair with a colleague and had threatened to expose him.
After the Noida police, the case was investigated by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force. The callous probe by the police was evident as it did not even bother to seal the crime scene and virtually everybody was allowed inside the house.
Following a public outrage over botched up investigations, the central government late Saturday issued a notification transferring the case to the CBI. The agency Sunday registered a first information report in the matter.
"The CBI today (Sunday) took over the investigation of the case relating to the double murder at Noida sector-25. The agency registered a case against unknown persons," a CBI statement said.
The agency also constituted a team of 25 members under the supervision of Joint Director Arun Kumar. Kumar has previously investigated the notorious Nithari killings and Rizwanur Rehman murder case.
The team also includes the head of forensic medicine department of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the director of Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Delhi.
The Noida police claimed to have cracked the case by arresting Aarushi's father. But have failed to bring up any evidence in support of its claim.
Meanwhile, the residents resented the heavy posse of policemen in the locality.
Preeti Srivastava, a local resident, said, "A father cannot kill his own daughter. We are ashamed of the police presence here. This is a peace loving society and we do not want outsiders here."