By IANS,
New Delhi : The twists and turns in the sensational Noida double murder of teenager Aarushi Talwar and her domestic help Hemraj have kept the nation in thrall, and even one month after the brutal killings the crucial murder weapon continues to elude the investigators.
The motive for the murders on the night of May 15 is also unclear – as well as who are the killer, or killers.
The first arrest, of dentist Rajesh Talwar, the father of Aarushi, on May 23 shocked the nation. How could a father kill his own daughter with such brutality? – is what everyone was asking. Was is really an honour killing and was Aarushi really getting involved with her slain servant Hemraj as the Noida police alleged, were the horrified questions on people’s lips.
Now with the second arrest, of Krishna, Talwar’s compounder, the plot has thickened further.
The honour killing theory of the Noida Police seems to have been turned on its head. With the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) taking over the case, the probe appears to be more focussed.
While they have not taken Rajesh Talwar off their suspect list, they are adding new suspects.
From one killer, it now appears the murders were the handiwork of three people. The CBI has also negated the Noida Police’s theory that Hemraj was first killed in a fit of anger after he was found in an “objectionable but not compromising” position with the girl.
Aarushi was killed much later, the Noida police had said, after the father reportedly had a swig of whiskey, and then entered her room. The mother, meanwhile, kept sleeping in the next room, blissfully unaware of the mayhem just six feet away.
Noida police had initially named missing domestic help Hemraj as the main suspect, but found his body on the terrace of the house the next day.
The CBI says it was a “pre-meditated” killing and Aarushi was killed first.
The probe agency has delved deep into the sewers and drains around the Jal Vayu Vihar house of the Talwars – sifting through mounds of sludge to look for the murder weapon and the missing mobile phones of the Delhi Public School girl and Hemraj.
Saturday they examined the overhead water tanks and pipes in the Talwar house – to no avail.
The Durranis, close friends of the Talwars, have also been put through intense interrogation and their servant, Raj Kumar, detained for questioning. Raj Kumar was very close to Hemraj and Krishna.
Anita Durrani, a dentist and business associate of Rajesh, was into a relationship with him, the investigators allege, though she has denied this. She was again questioned by the CBI Saturday. Her husband, Praful, was also questioned. Both were interrogated – together and separately – and their house cordoned off.
Rajesh Talwar was taken to Anita’s house a few days ago to corroborate some information leading to the murders.
Krishna was Saturday remanded to three days’ police custody. He broke down in the court and swore he was innocent. He was arrested on the basis of a series of scientific evidence, including narco analysis and lie detector tests.
Krishna was arrested for allegedly destroying evidence. He was the first to reveal the alleged relationship between Rajesh and Anita.
One intriguing factor in the entire sordid drama has been Nupur Talwar’s stoic silence.
Another new angle has been added with an industrialist friend of the Talwars under the scanner. He had apparently lent his car to the Talwars to go to Haridwar for Aarushi’s last rites, the day after the murder.
The CBI took over the investigations June 1 after widespread condemnation of the manner in which the Noida Police investigated the case and cast aspersions on Talwar’s character and even on Aarushi – a statement that invited condemnation from all corners, including Woman and Child Development Minister Renuka Chowdhury.
With the murders gripping the entire nation’s interest, Balaji Telefilms once announced it would use the case as part of one of its soaps. The announcement provoked instant outrage.
With the CBI hinting at more arrests and new evidence coming to the fore, the next few days could see the unravelling of the murder plot.