Crucial hearing in Arushi case in Supreme Court

New Delhi, Apr 24: The Supreme Court will have a crucial hearing on Monday in the Arushi-Hemraj double murder case with the CBI submitting that the investigation has reached a stage indicating the alleged involvement of dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar.

"Investigation has squarely reached a conclusion that no one other than Rajesh Talwar and Nupur Talwar could have conjointly committed this dastardly crime," the agency has said in its affidavit.

The CBI's stand assumes importance as in its closure report filed before a special court in Ghaziabad, the agency had not named any person for the double murder.

The CBI's response was to the petition filed by the Talwars seeking quashing of the summons issued to them by the trial court.

In its affidavit, the CBI has also referred to the statement made by a painter who had done the white-wash at the Talwars'' house in Noida.

The probe agency, in the affidavit, has accused Rajesh Talwar of forging documents, concealing facts and misleading the Supreme Court to get relief from prosecution in the trial court.

CBI's superintendent Neelabh Kishore alleged that Rajesh, in his appeal against the trial court, had deliberately taken a false plea that he was released on bail in July 2008, which was totally contrary to the facts.

A bench of Justices B Sudershan Reddy and S S Nijjar which took on record the affidavit after it was mentioned by the CBI counsel said it would take up the issue on Monday when the matter comes up for hearing.

The CBI clarified that Rajesh was released after the agency did not seek extension of his judicial custody, as at that time the investigators did not find sufficient material against him.

14-year-old Aarushi was found dead with her throat slit at her Noida residence on the outskirts of Delhi on May 16, 2008 and the body of domestic help Hemraj was found on the terrace the next day.

PTI