Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (EP)
Beltangady, Jun 16: The CBI court has delivered its verdict in the highly-publicized rape and murder case of Saujanya, a student of SDM College and a resident of Dharmastala, which had sent shockwaves across the country. After eleven years, the court has acquitted the primary suspect, Santhosh Rao, due to insufficient evidence.
The incident had sparked widespread protests along the coast when Saujanya, who was returning from college, was brutally raped and murdered. Santhosh Rao was arrested by the police in connection with the case. However, after extensive deliberations, Judge C B Santhosh of the CBI court has acquitted the suspect, citing a lack of substantial evidence.
Saujanya, a second PUC student at SDM College, Ujire, had gone missing on October 10, 2012. Her father, Chandrappa Gowda, filed a complaint at the Belthangady police station. The victim's lifeless body was discovered near Dharmastala, where she had been raped and murdered. Initial investigations were carried out by the police before the case was handed over to the CID. However, protests erupted, alleging mishandling of the investigation by the CID. Consequently, the state government transferred the case to the CBI. The CBI officials conducted investigations until 2016 and compiled a charge sheet. Nevertheless, Saujanya's father criticized the CBI's charge sheet, deeming it inadequate, and demanded further investigation.
In 2018, the single bench judge K Somashekar dismissed the petition filed by Saujanya's father, seeking reinvestigation. The High Court declined to direct the CBI to reopen the rape and murder case. The CBI charge sheet identified Santhosh Rao as the primary suspect. Today, the CBI court hearing the case announced its verdict. Mohith Kumar and Navin Kumar represented Santhosh Rao in the proceedings.
- Beltangady: Sowjanya murder case – CBI special court's verdict on Jun 16
- Beltangady: HC refuses request to order reinvestigation into Sowjanya's death
- Beltangady: Santhosh, lone accused in Sowjanya murder case, granted bail
- Beltangady: Sowjanya murder case-HC stays further probe
- Mangaluru: Sowjanya case - 'Influential people involved, no faith in CBI', says Thimarodi
- Mangaluru: Sowjanya case - Jains deny allegations, say ready for retests
- Mangaluru: Sowjanya's parents welcome court order; cops accused of destroying evidence
- Bengaluru: CBI court orders further probe into Sowjanya murder
- CBI gives clean chit to Heggade family in Sowjanya murder case
- Mangalore: Thimarodi to support Modi, says Cong did not give Sowjanya case to CBI
- Beltangady: CBI team arrives to probe Sowjanya case
- Sowjanya case: Dheeraj, Mallik, Uday claim smear campaign
- Justice for Sowjanya: Protest reaches Bantwal, students join in
- Karkala: Narco analysis test will bring out the truth - Sowjanya's mother
- Mangalore: Sowjanya's case apart, other mysteries too call for attention
- Mangalore: Sowjanya case - CPI(M) slams govt, calls for probe into other cases
- Bangalore: CM confirms CBI probe into Sowjanya murder case
- Beltangady: Finally, Sowjanya case handed over to CBI
- Beltangady: Sowjanya case - Dr Heggade writes to CM urging CBI probe
- Mangalore: CID report false; ready to shed blood to get justice for Sowjanya - Thimarodi
- Demand for CBI enquiry in Sowjanya case echoes in Bantwal
- CID names Santosh as accused in Sowjanya case, gives clean chit to Nischal
- Mangalore: Sowjanya case - Let struggle for justice reach every village - Kemar Swamiji
- Bangalore: CID report in Sowjanya case within a week, says George
- Udupi: Komu Souharda Vedike seeks CBI probe into Sowjanya case
- Beltangady: Sowjanya case will be discussed in parliament: Prakash Karat
- M'lore: Komu Souharda Vedike seeks CBI probe into Sowjanya case
- Beltangady: Justice for Sowjanya - Rally for CBI probe witnesses gigantic crowd
- Beltangady: Stop investigation into Sowjanya case, let CBI handle - Vasanth Bangera
- M’lore: Sowjanya case should be handed over to CBI – HJV
- Kundapur: DYFI demands CBI probe into Sowjanya’s case
- Sowjanya case: Protestors attempt to gherao CM's residence
- Mangalore: On Sowjanya's birthday, students demand CBI probe into her death
- Beltangady: Thimarodi, Sowjanya's parents get grand welcome; CID steps up probe
- Beltangady: My nephew has nothing to do with Sowjanya case - Dr Veerendra Heggade
- Mangalore: Powerful people involved in Sowjanya murder case: Thimarodi
- Mangalore: Sowjanya case - Organizations join hands to demand CBI probe
- Bangalore: Home minister orders fresh CID probe into Sowjanya murder case
- Beltangady: Sowjanya was Murdered at a Different Spot, Claim Family Members
- Beltangady: Sowjanya Murder - CoD Team Arrives, Begins Probe
- Mangalore: Sri Rama Sene Calls for CBI Probe into Sowjanya Case
- Beltangady: Sowjanya Murder Case Handed over to CoD
- Mangalore: HJV Condemns Dharmasthala GP's Statement Against Kemar Swamiji
- Beltangady Murders - Dr Heggade Calls for Probe, Slams Rumours
- Beltangady: 'Vested Interests Using Sowjanya Case for Publicity'
- Sowjanya Case: MLA Appeals People to Stop Spreading Rumour SMS
- Sowjanya Murder: Kemar Swamiji Calls for Fresh Probe, to File PIL in HC
- Beltangady: Sowjanya Murder Case - Family Demands CoD Probe
- Beltangady: Silent Protest Held Demanding Justice in Sowjanya Murder Case
- Beltangady: Mentally Ill Santhosh Raped, Killed Sowjanya - SP
- Udupi: Students Led by ABVP Condemn Sowjanya's Murder
- Sowjanya Murder - One Arrested, Locals Demand Police to Hand him over
- Beltangady: Sowjanya Murder - Angry Students, Citizens Demand Justice
- Belthangady: 17-year-old Girl Raped, Brutally Killed