Aarushi murder: Vijay Mandal gets bail

Noida, Sep 4: Vijay Mandal, an accused in the sensational Noida double-murder case was released on bail by a CBI court in Ghaziabad despite opposition from the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI). The other two accused of the case Krishna and Raj Kumar was sent to 14 day judicial custody by the court. Vijay was granted bail by court following a bail plea moved by the accused that the agency did not have any proof to name him as an accused in the Aarushi-Hemraj murder case.

The judge, after hearing the arguments from both sides, granted bail to Mandal, domestic servant of Aarushi's neighbour on a surety of Rs 25,000. As investigations are still in process, the CBI opposed the bail application citing this. CBI told to the court that Mandal if released could escape or damage evidences which might still exist. However, Vijay Mandal's lawyer contended that the agency had not been able to collect any evidence against his client in spite of Mandal being arrested in July. The case had attracted much public attention as the Noida police had initially goofed up the investigation leaving gapping holes in the case even as it arrested Aarushi's father Dr Rajesh Talwar for the twin murder. Later on after severe criticism, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati transferred the case to CBI on June 1.

Background:

Aarushi, a class IX student of Delhi Public School in Noida, was found in her bedroom with her throat slit on May 22. A day later, Hemraj, the Nepali help of the Talwar household, who was initially named as prime suspect by Noida Police, was found dead on the terrace. His throat was also slit in a similar manner. Aarushi's father, Dr Rajesh Talwar has been arrested for the murders of his daughter and domestic servant Hemraj in the sensational double murder case.Talwar was arrested on May 23 after being questioned by the Noida police. However after a span of 60 days from the day of murder CBI declared that Krishna and Rajkumar, the domestic helps of Talwar family were the murderers and not Rajesh Talwar. He was released on July 11, 2008.

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