CBI admits lacunae during investigation of Matoo murder case

New Delhi, Aug 31 (UNI) Seven years after the acquittal of the prime accused, the CBI today accepted before the Delhi High Court that there were consistent and tangible evidence to establish culpability of Santosh Singh in the sensational Priyardarshini Mattoo rape-cum-murder case.

Appearing before a division bench of Justice R S Sodhi and Justice P K Bhasin, Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam said the CBI had enough evidence to pin down Singh, the son of a retired IPS Officer, who allegedly raped and mudered Matoo.

''Notwithstanding the trial judge citing 14 reasons for acquitting the accused, we have enough material to connect the accused to the crime,'' said Mr Subramaniam while presenting the case of the CBI on the first day of hearing of the appeal challenging the acquittal.

Matoo, a law student of the Delhi University, was allegedly raped and murdered by Singh on Jaunary 23, 1996.

While adjourning the matter till September 5, the court said it would take up the proceedings on regular basis for three days in week.

The Judges pulled up the CBI for alleged destruction of evidence and shoddy investigation which led to the acquittal of the culprit, who is now a practising lawyer in Delhi.

Singh was a fellow student in the Law Faculty and studying one batch senior to Matoo.

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