Talwar couple murdered Hemraj too, says judge; quantum of sentence today
A CBI court in Ghaziabad on Monday convicted dentist couple Dr Rajesh Talwar and Dr Nupur Talwar of killing their 14-year-old daughter, Aarushi Talwar, on the night of May 15, 2008. They were also held guilty of the murder of their domestic help, Yam Prasad Banjade, alias Hemraj.
Additional Sessions Judge Shyam lal held both of them guilty of destruction of evidence. Rajesh Talwar has also been convicted under section 203 of the IPC for giving false information to the Noida police station about the incident. Arguments on sentencing will be held on Tuesday after which the judge will announce quantum of sentence in the case whose probe saw many twists and turns and flip flops by the prosecution.
Special Judge Shyam lal relied on the circumstantial evidences to convict the couple under Section 302 (murder), 201 (destruction of evidence) and 34 (common intent) of the IPC. After two adjournments since morning, the judge, who will retire by the end of the month, arrived in the high-security court room at 3.30 pm and summoned both the accused.
He read out the operative portion from his order that both the parents have been convicted of murder and destruction of evidence and on the charge of committing an act in furtherance of common intention.
"They are on bail. Their bail is cancelled and sureties are discharged. let both the accused be taken into custody and sent to jail. Quantum of punishment would be pronounced tomorrow — November 26, 2013 — at 2.00 pm," the Judge stated in his order. The Talwar couple broke into tears as they were taken into custody and were being taken to Dasna jail.
In his 204-page order, the Special Judge noted, "Now it is the time to say omega in the case. To perorate it is proved beyond reasonable doubts that accused are the perpetrators of the crime."
Dinesh Talwar, brother of Rajesh, told reporters outside the court that they would appeal against the verdict in the Allahabad High Court.
Soon after the judgement, defence lawyer Satyketu Singh criticised the ruling and termed it "an illegal order". "It was a case of no evidence. Even the CBI itself had not made them accused and submitted a closure report. We will approach the Allahabad High Court against the judgement," he said.
It would be pertinent to mention here that Noida Police had earlier registered a case of murder against Hemraj on the complaint of Dr Rajesh. The story turned on its head after KK Gaurtam, a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police of Uttar Pradesh, discovered the body of Hemraj on the roof of Jalvayu Vihar resident of the Talwar couple.
