Aarushi murder can be solved only if CBI admits to loopholes: Avirook Sen
Avirook Sen's book 'Aarushi', which documented the media misrepresentations in the case and the CBI's questionable handling of evidence, hailed the acquittal of Rajesh and Nupur Talwar.
Ankita Bose
Moneycontrol News
Avirook Sen, the author of a book that chronicled the Aarushi Talwar murder case, said on Friday that it would only be possible to trace the killer/s of the teenage girl and domestic help Hemraj Banjade if the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) admits to the loopholes in its investigation.
"Until the time the CBI acknowledges their mistakes, there will be no resolution," Sen told Moneycontrol.
Sen hailed the Allahabad High Court's acquittal of Rajesh and Nupur Talwar on Thursday over the killing of their daughter and domestic help Hemraj Banjade in 2008, citing lack of evidence. The High Court set aside a 2013 Ghaziabad court verdict convicting the Talwars and sentencing them to life imprisonment.
"The gross miscarriage of justice that occurred in Ghaziabad four years ago has been corrected in Allahabad on Thursday," Sen, who has been advocating the release of the Talwars, said.
Sen's book Aarushi documented the media misrepresentations in the case and the CBI's questionable handling of evidence. The acquittal of the Talwars on Thursday also means that the mystery over who killed Aarushi and Hemraj continues.
The CBI is currently mulling appealing the acquittal in the Supreme Court.
"It is the prosecution's right. But given what the High Court has said, I believe it is an uphill task for them to mount a sensible appeal," Sen added.
The crime journalist also reiterated that the media had crossed the line of insensitivity in sensationalising the case.
"The role of the media is to be journalists and not pornographers," he said, referring to the character assassination of Aarushi and her parents during the trial. He said that journalists must be responsible and check for the credibility when a lead is passed on to them before reporting on issues.
Sen is of the opinion that the media has a great "self-reflective" role to play and must acknowledge that they "may have wronged the Talwars" in order to give them a clean chit in society.
