Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jul 18: Crime branch inspector general of police K Padmakumar has informed that the investigating team will file chargesheet in Safiya murder case, within 90 days.

He spoke to the media during his visit to Kasargod to have a holistic look at the investigations taking place in the murder of housemaid, 14-year-old Safiya. He said that he expected receipt forensic reports on the skeletal remains of Safiya recovered by the team, within a week.

Some sources revealed that Padmakumar chose to visit the town in the backdrop of a number of anonymous letters received by the department, targeting one of the officers in the investigating team, as he wanted to verify the genuineness of the allegations and rumours of a rift among the team members. Questioned on the absence of superintendent of police K P Philip, who had taken an active role in unearthing the evidence and booking culprits in the case swiftly, he said that the officer was on leave because of fever and was not in town.

The sources said, that the internal squabble arose on the issue of passing whatever information the crime branch team could cull out by interrogating persons connected with the accused, to the accused Hamza, who was then in Goa, within seconds. It is gathered, that the team was able to collect some vital clues after questioning two women relatives of Hamza relating to the case, but Hamza got wind of the same and drove the women out of his home immediately.

Padmakumar said that a report has been sent to the home department recommending initiation of disciplinary proceedings against police officials who are facing allegations of dereliction of duty and leniency. The report also names Kasargod circle inspector, DySP, SP and other police officials who were involved with the first phase of the investigation in this case.