CID names Santosh as accused in Sowjanya case, gives clean chit to Nischal
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Nov 1: The CID which was investigating the rape and murder case of Sowjanya, has submitted its 12-page preliminary report to the home ministry, naming Santosh Rao as the accused and giving clean chit to four persons, including nephew of Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr Veerendra Heggade, who were named by Sowjanya's parents.
Santosh Rao
In the report submitted on Thursday October 31, the CID named Santosh Rao, who is said to be mentally ill and who was arrested soon after the incident, as the accused. The report states that Santosh admitted that he murdered Sowjanya after she resisted his attempt to rape her, sources said.
It is said that there is enough evidence to nail Santosh Rao. But no evidence could be found against Nischal Jain, Mallik Jain, Dheeraj Kella, and Uday Jain, who were named by the victim's family, during the process of investigation. Moreover, there is enough information to prove that the four have no role to play in the case, the CID is understood to have stated in the report.
The report also states that Nischal Jain, nephew of Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade, left for USA on August 21, 2012, and returned on December 28. He was not in India on the day the crime was committed. International documents and records, and CCTV images from the airport have been examined to prove this fact, it is learnt.
Mallik Jain, an accountant was in Dharmasthala on the day of the crime, but he was constantly making calls to a friend. Examination of the call records showed that he was in Dharmasthala town all the time, the report states.
Dheeraj Kella was in his photography studio at the time of the incident. A relative of Sowjanya who works in the same studio is said to have given statement proving his presence in the studio. Uday Jain had been to Ujire to watch a Yakshagana show and his mobile phone records prove the fact, the CID officials reportedly stated.
A senior official is reported to have said that though the four youths were named by the victim's family and others, they did not provide any proof to back their claims, and cross examination of the four persons did not reveal anything incriminating either.
The official is also said to have denied that Santosh was mentally unsound as claimed. He was subjected to psychiatry tests at NIMHANS in Bangalore and his mental health was certified as being sound, the official said. However, he added that Santosh was suffering from a sexual problem that made him commit the act.
"A thorough investigation has been done in the case. We have received and probed all the information with regard to the case. Still, a CBI probe may be ordered if the governement feels the need for it," the CID officials are said to have stated.
Meanwhile, supporters and devotees of Dharmasthala expressed happiness and relief about the CID report and said that justice is finally being done. However, Sowjanya's family expressed disappointment and said that they will approach the Supreme Court if the case was not handed over to the CBI. MLA Vasanth Bangera too said that he was unhappy with the CID report.
The final report of the CID will be submitted to the court in a couple of weeks, sources said.
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