Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Sep 5: A delegation of BJP MLAs met chief minister (CM) Siddaramaiah and submitted an appeal to re-investigate the rape and murder case of Soujanya.
The delegation said, “Replying to our appeal, CM Siddaramaiah said that there is no scope for the state government to reinvestigate the case legally. He has conveyed the same to the parents of Soujanya. As I have already taken the legal opinion, Soujanya’s parents can go for higher appeal or they can send higher appeal to the CBI. As we have approached him, the CM assured to take the legal opinion once again.”
It may be recalled, 17-year-old Soujanya was kidnapped on October 9, 2012 on way to her home in Ujire near Dharmasthala. She was studying in a private college. The next day her body was found near Nethravathi River, close to her house in the forests.
The news spread like wildfire and thousands of people gathered to demand justice. The fingers were pointed towards the family members of the powerful religious leader of the region. Amid the furore, the police arrested one Santhosh Rao on October 11 and claimed that he had raped and killed Soujanya.
The CBI Special Court acquitted the arrested accused Santhosh Rao of all the charges and the court also ordered a probe against those who investigated the case for turning a blind eye towards collecting crucial evidence in the due course of time. The judgment raised concerns among the public.
The issue has now come to the forefront again in Karnataka. Rajya Sabha BJP MP Veerendra Heggade reacting to allegations of hushing up the case had stated that attempts are made to bring disrepute and defame the Hindu pilgrimage center Dharmasthala, which is taking giant strides in terms of development by the invisible hands. The issue is taking a political turn with the BJP organising protests demanding the arrest of culprits in the case.3