UP police defends Dr Talwar's arrest in SC

The Uttar Pradesh police has told the Supreme Court that it was "prima facie satisfied" about alleged involvement of Dr Rajesh Talwar in the sensational double murder of his teenaged daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj before arresting him.

In an affidavit filed before the apex court, the UP police submitted that it had conducted a fair investigation and observed all necessary rules under the Criminal Procedure Code before arresting Dr Talwar.

"After having been prima facie satisfied with the involvement of Dr Talwar in the instant crime, he was arrested by the investigating officer," the affidavit stated.

"There is sufficient evidence collected by the investigating officer of the case which prima facie proves the involvement of Dr Rajesh Talwar in the double murder," the affidavit said.

Aarushi and Hemraj were found murdered at the Talwars' Jal Vayu Vihar resident in Noida district on May 16.

The affidavit has been filed in response to a PIL filed by Surat Singh, an advocate who mainly sought a restraint on the media from "pre-judging" the issue and the police from tarnishing the image of Talwars.

According to the UP police the investigations were fair and conducted under the direct supervision of the Meerut range Inspector General of Police.

Following his May 23 arrest on charges of murdering Aarushi and Hemraj, Talwar was remanded to judicial custody by the Chief Judicial Magistrate. Later, the investigation was entrusted to the CBI on May 31.

The UP government said that the information to the media on Dr Talwar's alleged involvement was passed not for maligning his or the girl's reputation "but the same was done only to repel speculations and nothing more."

"No biased approach was meted out to Dr Talwar. Nothing was intended or done by the investigating police team, which from any angle may malign the prestige or public image of Dr Talwar," the UP police said.

On the contrary, it claimed, efforts were made to preserve the dignity of Dr Talwar and his family.

"It is humbly submitted that no wild allegations were levelled against friends (Duranis) of Dr Talwar or the deceased Aarushi. In fact due diligence was taken to preserve the dignity of Dr Talwar and his family members," the UP government said.

Though the UP police had accused Dr Rajesh Talwar of murdering his teenaged daughter and domestic help, the CBI which subsequently took up investigation had given a clean chit to him and had pointed an accusing finger towards domestic help Krishna and two others, Raj Kumar and Vijay Mandal.

However, the CBI, notwithstanding its claim of achieving a breakthrough in the case, has allegedly failed so far to recover either the weapons or any other incriminating evidence to nail the accused.