12:32 (IST)
Dr Rajesh hugged me and burst into tears: Dasna prison jailer
DR Maurya, superintendent of Dasna Jail, who broke the news of the acquittal to Rajesh and Nupur Talwar told Hindustan Times, "When we went to Dr Rajesh (Talwar), he hugged me and burst into tears. He said that justice has been delivered."
“Dr Nupur remained silent but she was also in tears,” he added.
12:25 (IST)
Did maid's statement change Talwar's fate?
Many in the CBI and defence team felt that it was the statement of maid servant Bharati Mondal which affected their case, The Times of India reported.
She had allegedly recorded her statement before the CBI which read, "I put my hand on the door and it didn't open." Later, when Bharti appeared before the CBI court in December 2012, she said, "I could push open the first door of the entrance, but the second wooden door was locked."
12:19 (IST)
As mystery deepens over who is the real killer, here's a look at key characters
Apart from Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, during the course of CBI investigation, there were three other prime suspects whose narco-analysis was conducted. At the crux of the narco-analysis as mentioned in Avirook Sen's book, even though the statement may pose contradictions, it had one converging point that all three were at the Talwar residence on the night of the murders.
12:16 (IST)
Talwars to walk free after prison authorities receive order: Dasna prison jailer
"We have not received the court order as yet. We will release them once we get it," Dasna Jail Superintendent Dadhiram Maurya said.
He said there were two methods to complete the process of releasing a prisoner from jail. "Either the Allahabad High Court sends its order copy directly to jail authorities or it is sent through the CBI court concerned which awarded them life sentence," he said.
12:09 (IST)
RECAP: Nupur Talwar wanted an NGO in Aarushi's name
In an interview given two years back, Nupur Talwar had said that she wanted to start an NGO in her daughter Aarushi's name that could work for children, NDTV reported.
"I think if there is any way in which we can return to society, in Aarushi name, we will do it... I don't think it would be possible to go back to a routine life," she had said.
12:05 (IST)
Actor Irrfan Khan reacts to the verdict, says justice has been served.
Actor Irrfan Khan, who starred in the 2015 film Talvar, said Talwar family has finally had the truth by their side and justice has been served in the right order.
Insaaf ki tarazoo .. #AarushiVerdict#Talwars
— Irrfan (@irrfank) October 13, 2017
11:20 (IST)
Should botched investigations be criminalised?
Crucial evidence was lost due to the shoddy probes conducted by various authorities investigating the Aarushi Talwar murder case.
Experts are divided on whether shoddy or botched investigations should be criminalised and invite punishment.
"It would create an imbalance in the criminal justice system. A better method is for first responders to be adequately trained. Cops are trained but not fully to know what they will encounter," News18 quoted Niharika Karanjewala, a lawyer part of the defence team in the Aarushi murder case, as saying.
On the other hand, senior lawyer Mohit Paul said, "While we need to sensitize the law enforcement agencies, they should do a fair investigation. The job of judging who is right and wrong is that of the court. We need to criminalize botched investigations."
10:46 (IST)
Talwars to walk free from jail only when prison authorities receive court order
Rajesh and Nupur Talwar are likely to walk free from the jail in Dansa after the prison authorities receive the court order, the jailer said.
"We have not received the court order as yet. We will release them once we get it," Dasna Jail Superintendent Dadhiram Maurya told reporters.
He said there were two methods to complete the process of releasing a prisoner from jail.
"Either the Allahabad High Court sends its order copy directly to jail authorities or it is sent through the CBI court concerned which awarded them life sentence," he said. — PTI
10:34 (IST)
Life goes on in Jalvayu Vihar
There are neem trees named in the memory of Aarushi and Hemraj at a garden near the L-32 flat in Jalvayu Vihar, Sector 25, Noida — the place where the Talwars lived.
Hindustan Times reports that when the double murder took place on 16 May, 2008, the entire locality was shocked.
But life has moved on in this locality and a young couple with three dogs stay in Talwars' house now. "The incident happened nine years back, we knew about it when we were shifting into the house. But it doesn’t affect us in any way. We live happily with our pets," the report quoted one of the occupants as saying.
10:11 (IST)
Talwars may be released by 4 pm
I think release orders will be received by jail superintendent by afternoon& Talwars will be released by 4 pm: Tanveer A Mir,Talwars' lawyer pic.twitter.com/0RngIjJsQZ
— ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2017
10:09 (IST)
No evidence to show sexual act between Aarushi and Hemraj: Allahabad HC
CNN-News18 reports that the Allahabad High Court has trashed the CBI claim that there was an affair between Aarushi and Hemraj. "(There is) no evidence to show sexual act between Aarushi and Hemraj," the news channel quoted the court as saying. " (It is) crystal clear that CBI could not prove motive in the case," the court further said.
The Allahabad High Court in its judgment has also hit out at the trial judge who had given the earlier verdict in this case. "The trial judge is unmindful of the basic tenets of law," CNN-News18 quoted the high court as saying. "The judge adopted a partial and parochial approach to vent his own beliefs," the court said, adding that the trial judge acted with "extra zeal and enthusiasm" and "gave shape to imagination stripped of facts".
10:01 (IST)
CBI should explain why stories about affair between Aarushi and Hemraj were made up: Author of book 'Aarushi'
Avirook Sen, author of book 'Aarushi', has said in a News18 article that for the CBI to convince people of the theory about the alleged affair between Aarushi and Hemraj, "you need to place the two people in that same room."
He said that CBI failed to produce any scientific evidence like blood, hair or semen to support their claim.
09:56 (IST)
Nupur Talwar never fought, argued in jail: Security in-charge at Dasna Jail
According to News18, Pushpa Sharma, security in-charge at Dasna Jail, said that after the Allahabad High Court verdict, Nupur Talwas was emotional and said that this was because of people's blessings.
Sharma also said that Talwar never fought with anyone or argued in jail.
09:37 (IST)
Jab tak order nahi aayega tab tak jail se koi karyawahi nahi ho sakti: D Maurya,Jailor, Dasna Jail on Talwars' release order #AarushiVerdictpic.twitter.com/lKSp7bekIZ
— ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2017
09:26 (IST)
Trial judge acted like a film director: Allahabad HC
"Like a film Director, the trial Judge has tried to thrust coherence amongst facts inalienably scattered here and there but not giving any coherence to the idea as to what in fact happened," NDTV quoted the Allahabad High Court as saying in its detailed judgment.
09:09 (IST)
CBI's shoddy probe exposed
The acquittal of Rajesh and Nupur Talwar highlights the "shoddy, motivated, and suspiciously perverted probe" done by the CBI in this case, says this DNA article.
Even though the first CBI team did not find any evidence against the Talwars, Ashwini Kumar — after becoming CBI director in July 2008 — disbanded the first team probing the case and a new team led by AGN Kaul began a new investigation.
Kaul's team "upended the findings of the first team and revived the theory that was being pondered by the media and Noida police, essentially, that Rajesh Talwar killed Aarushi and Hemraj in a fit of sudden grave provocation."
08:55 (IST)
Mystery still shrouds Aarushi's murder
Was Aarushi really found in an 'objectionable' position? Has the murder weapon been found? Along with theories, a multitude of questions arise as to how exactly was Aarushi Talwar murdered.
According to the CBI's closure report, "Rajesh in his written complaint had alleged that his servant Hemraj had killed his daughter in the night of 15/16 May 2008 and that he was missing."
However, just the next day, on 17 May 2008, Hemraj's body was found on the terrace of Talwar residence. The CBI took Rajesh into custody and questioned him, but the interrogation reached a dead end.
Click here to read about the several theories about the murder.
08:46 (IST)
Who killed Aarushi?
With the Talwars being released and reports of CBI planning to move the Supreme Court against the decision, it brings to the fore an important question.
If not the Talwars, who killed Aarushi and Hemraj?
It is noteworthy that though CBI's initial investigation pointed fingers at Krishna, Vijay and Rajkumar, all three were let off the hook in the subsequent investigation by the CBI under a different investigating officer.
08:21 (IST)
Updates for 13 October begin
21:58 (IST)
A brief summary of the day's developments
20:34 (IST)
Contrasting post-mortem reports added to complexity of Aarushi murder case
There were differing post-mortem reports. While one mentioned a “prominent opening” of Aarushi’s private parts, the other mentioned “NAD (no abnormality detected)” in the section on the teenager’s private parts.
20:06 (IST)
A trauma from years ago, now a painful mystery to live with: Aarushi Talwar's classmate
Firstpost reached out to some of Aarushi Talwar's batchmates from Delhi Public School, Noida. Most of them flatly refused, stating that they’re fed up of answering interrogative questions that affect their mental peace. One of her classmates who chose to retain his/her identity finally agreed to relive the painful journey of growing up in the neighbourhood of this frightening crime
"We didn’t believe that her parents could be her killers because they seemed just as concerned and loving as anybody else's parents. We used to see them regularly at PTA meetings or when they came to pick her up from school. We also didn't believe that she was sexually involved with her servant because she was an attractive girl and many guys crushed over her," she says.
19:53 (IST)
Investigation botched up because crime scene was badly tampered: ex-CBI investigator
As a result, after that we got nothing of value from the scene of crime. That was the major lacuna in the entire investigation: AP Singh
— ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2017
19:51 (IST)
Court gave Talwars the benefit of doubt, hasn't pronounced them innocent, says former CBI investigator
It is not really a clean chit because it says benefit of doubt and not that they are innocent:Former CBI Director AP Singh #AarushiVerdictpic.twitter.com/WDuwVZckpj
— ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2017
19:37 (IST)
#Epicentre - There are still many scenarios in this case that haven't been investigated properly: Madhu Kishwar, Author #WhoKilledAarushipic.twitter.com/3p3nU1hJkb
— News18 (@CNNnews18) October 12, 2017
19:33 (IST)
'CBI came with a preconceived notion and have been trying to fit the evidence to it', Nupur Talwar in 2012 interview
In an interview given to CNN-News18 in 2012, Aarushi's mother, Nupur Talwar expressed dismayal at the fact that people would believe in therories accusing her and her husband of their child's murder.
"I don't know what else to say.. what should I do. How can you think that we could kill our child. Why wouldn't people believe us. I would put this on record here that we never touched the crime scene after we found Aarushi there," Nupur had said.
"The CBI has come with a preconceived notion, for reasons best known to them... and they are trying to fit the evidence to it," she had added
18:36 (IST)
Allahabad HC corrected CBI mistake: Aarushi book author
Avirook Sen, the author of the book based on the 2008 murder of Aarushi Talwar and domestic help Hemraj, welcomed the Allahabad High Court judgement acquitting her parents Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, saying the wrong done by the CBI has been corrected.
Of his personal observation of Aarushi's parents, he said: "I remember the couple's life as a life mainly of pressure and sadness."
"It's not the High Court's mandate to investigate and find out who the killers are. The court is charged with only one responsibility and that was on the evidence presented by CBI against the Talwars. They have answered the question that they were asked," he said.
"To find out the killers is neither the responsibility of the journalists, nor the court... it is the responsibility of the CBI that they should do some reflection and try and understand why we couldn't put their cases properly," he added.
18:34 (IST)
Acquittal of Talwar's strengthened my faith in justice system: Filmamker Vishal Bhardwaj
Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, writer and co-producer of "Talvar" — a film on the 2008 Aarushi Talwar murder case — said he was relieved and overwhelmed that the teenaged girl's parents were acquitted in the case on Thursday.
"Talvar" delved into the sensational killing of 14-year-old Aarushi and her family's 45-year-old servant Hemraj Banjade — a case in which Aarushi's parents were convicted in November 2013 and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Bhardwaj said in a statement: "We were questioned by a lot of people when we made 'Talvar' even though we didn't take any sides in presenting the story and maintained as neutral a viewpoint as possible. I am overwhelmed and relieved to hear of the Talwars' acquittal and this strengthens my faith in the Indian judicial system."
"However, it still pains me when I think about the precious years lost in prison and the emotional trauma that the parents had to go through, so much so that they couldn't even mourn their own daughter's demise."
18:30 (IST)
How a contradicting CBI and an overlooking trial court caused travesty of justice
Since that fateful morning of 16 May 2008, when Aarushi and Hemraj were found dead in a Noida apartment, there have been numerous flip-flops, leading to an ever-changing cast of suspects, accused, guilty and, finally, a string of acquittals — starting with Rajesh Talwars assistant Krishna and two domestic helps — Rajkumar and Vijay — and ending with the parents.
The denouement of the case is absolutely shocking. In spite of throwing the best agencies and investigators into the case, a murder that happened in an apartment — not, mind you, in some remote corner of India — in the National Capital Region has not been cracked. This when the number of suspects, the possible permutations and combinations, and the motive could have been limited.
18:27 (IST)
Rajesh and Nupur Talwar to walk out of jail by tomorrow afternoon: CNN-News18
17:55 (IST)
Aarushi Verdict an eye-opener on why India's criminal justice system needs an urgent overhaul
The case previously saw three full investigations. One was by the Uttar Pradesh Police and the other two by the CBI. Only the second investigation exonerated the couple and the rest two charged them with double murder. It was indeed strange that the third investigation, which was the second one by CBI had charged the Talwar duo for the double murder when it was only them who had opposed the filing of the closure report by the same agency.
The criminal justice system of India is an accused-centred process and not a victim-centred one. This means that the focus of the judicial process is only the determination of the guilt of the accused and not finding the actual perpetrator of the criminal act. This means that after this verdict, unless and until there is again a fresh investigation, the murderer of Aarushi and Hemraj will remain unknown.
17:46 (IST)
Allahabad HC said outsider angle can't be ruled out: Tanveer Mir, defence lawyer
Tanveer Mir, speaking to CNN-News 18, said that the court found that the evidence provided by the CBI itself could not conclusively rule out the possibility that no outsider could have entered the house.
17:41 (IST)
Former CBI investigator associated with case had said Talwars are innocent
Evidence insufficient to prosecute Rajesh & Nupur Talwar. Court has only said what I had said in the beginning: Former CBI Director AP Singh
— ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2017
17:41 (IST)
Talwars never got the chance to properly grieve their daughter: Defence lawyer
17:32 (IST)
Aarushi's parents still anxious to know who killed their daughter: Defence lawyer
17:31 (IST)
Both HC judges wrote separate judgments pronouncing Talwars not quilty
17:26 (IST)
Former CBI investigator associated with case said Talwars are innocent
Arun Kumar, a 1985 batch IPS officer who led the investigation for some time, after it was handed over to the agency believed that Rajesh and Nupur Talwar were innocent.
"We concluded that since it was impossible for awake and alert officers to hear sounds from Aarushiâs room, it would have been impossible for the Talwars to hear anything that night. Then the narco tests also proved they showed no deception. So there was no evidence to incriminate them," Kumar told The Quint in an interview.
However, those who succeded him believe that his investigation was riddled with loopholes.
17:20 (IST)
Police investigation revealed that domestic staff of Talwars showed 'undue haste' in cleaning up the crime scene
The body of Aarushi was brought back to the residence of Dr Rajesh Talwar by aroudn 7.30pm. After keeping the body there for about half an hour, the body was taken to the cremation ground in Noida where the last rites of Aarushi were carried out. As sson as the body of Aarushi was taken for cremation, the staff of Dr. Rajesh Talwar and Dr. Nupur Talwar showed undue haste in thoroughly cleaning the floor and walls of Aarushi's room with soap and water. The blood stained mattress on the bed of Aarushi and other blood stained articles were carried by them to the terrace. On finding the terrace door locked, they asked for the key of the terrace door of the adjacent flat belonging to Shri Puneesh Tandon. The blood stained mattress etc. were thrown on the terrace of Shri Puneesh Tandon and the terrace door was locked.
Read the full text of CBI closure report on Aarushi Talwar murder case
17:14 (IST)
Rajesh and Nupur Talwar 'happy' after acquittal: Dasna Jailer
Rajesh and Nupur Talwar are happy, and said that they have got justice, DR Maurya, jailor, Dasna Jail was quoted as saying by ANI.
17:12 (IST)
CBI likely to move SC against Rajesh and Nupur Talwar's acquittal
#BREAKING CBI likely to move Supreme Court against Allahabad High Court's verdict on Aarushi murder case #WhoKilledAarushi#TalwarsAcquittedpic.twitter.com/D16kUpZbDP
— News18 (@CNNnews18) October 12, 2017
17:08 (IST)
CBI likely to challenge Talwars' acquittal in SC
According to CNN-News 18, CBI sources have said that the investigation team is already considering moving the Supreme Court against the acquittal of Rajesh and Nupur Talwar. The sources said that the same set of evidence has elicited varying reactions from the judiciary. The trial court had earlier found Aarushi's parents guilty of the dual murder and of trying to destroy crucial evidence in the case.
17:03 (IST)
"At this age it was very trying for me to see my daughter and son-in-law being lodged in jail for a crime they did not commit. I am hugely relieved that this has come to an end," Aarushi's grandfather.
Grateful to judiciary. Have seen them suffering. It has been really testing. I am emotionally drained: BG Chitnis, Nupur Talwar's father pic.twitter.com/ogwbJk3HJo
— ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2017
16:56 (IST)
CBI could not even prove Rajesh, Nupur Talwar's presence in Aarusihi's room: Avirook Sen
Speaking to CNN-News 18, Avirook Sen, author of the book Aarushi said that the investigation on the case was botched up. He said that no fresh evidence can be collected in the case and the existing evidence could not even prove Rajesh and Nupur Talwar's presence in Aarushi's room.
16:41 (IST)
Thankful to the court for ending this injustice: Vandana Talwar
Vandana Talwar, Aarushi's aunt, said that the family was exhausted after the 9-year-long trying journey and the high court judgment is a welcome relief.
"I am absolutely thankful to the high court for bringing an end to the injustice that was meted out to Rajesh and Nupur," she said.
16:36 (IST)
"We are deeply relieved and grateful to the god. It's been an exhausting journey in the last 10 years and I am absolutely thankful to the high court for bringing an end to the injustice that was meted out to Rajesh and Nupur.
I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the people who supported us through this time." Vandana Talwar, Aarushi's Aunt
16:25 (IST)
CBI failed to prove beyond doubt that Talwars are guilty: Allahabad HC
Allahabad High Court has observed in its judgment that the circumstantial evidence provided by the CBI is insufficient to convince the court that the Talwars were indeed guilty. The court also said that the basic legal tenets state that an accused is innocent until proven guilty. The court's order also negates CBI courts observation that since Talwars were the only people present in the house at the time of the murder, the burden of furnishing satisfactory proof of their innocence lied with them.
16:18 (IST)
With Rajesh and Nupur Talwar's acquittal, Aarushi's murder case is back to square one
As the Allahabad High Court held that the CBI investigation failed to prove, beyond reasonable doubt, that the Talwar couple was indeed guilty of killing their daughter, the question that who committed the sensational dual murder looms large.
So far, the CBI investigation has been based on the fact that the Talwars not only killed their daughter, but they also destroyed crucial evidence. The investigation agency will have to work again on a water-tight case against the murderer.
16:01 (IST)
Innocent until proven guilty bedrock of law: Omar Abdullah welcomes Allahabad HC judgement
Omar Abdullah hails Allahabad HC judgement stating that the mystery over Aarushi's murder may never be solved but it is important that justice is upheld. Omar, in a series of tweets, also criticised the police for making a "dog's breakfast of the investigation."
Don’t know who killed #Arushi & will probably never know but what I do know is the police made a total dogs breakfast of the investigation.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 12, 2017
The law presumes innocence until guilt is established beyond reasonable doubt. Innocent till proven guilty is bedrock of criminal law. https://t.co/5fkVqCRMab
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 12, 2017
15:53 (IST)
Nupur and Rajesh Talwar to be released from jail tomorrow: Lawyer
Both Rajesh & Nupur Talwar have been acquitted and we are expecting that they will be out of jail tomorrow: Lawyer of Rajesh & Nupur Talwar pic.twitter.com/xGg8oJX3HF
— ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2017
The Allahabad High Court on Thursday acquitted Nupur and Rajesh Talwar in the 2008 murder of their teenage daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj, saying that neither the circumstances nor the evidence was enough to hold them guilty.
The verdict ends, at least for now, the nine-year ordeal of the Noida couple who were sentenced to life by a Ghaziabad CBI court on 28 November, 2013 for the double murder that not only transfixed but also shook the nation with its element of filicide.
The Talwars, who are both dentists, are expected to be freed on Friday from Ghaziabad's Dasna jail after the completion of paperwork. The CBI did not immediately say if it would appeal the High Court verdict. It said it would study the order and decide the future course of action.
After so many years, the Aarushi Talwar murder case still remains unsolved. PTI
"I am grateful to the judiciary for the verdict," said BG Chitnis, Nupur Talwar's father and a former Group Captain in the Indian Air Force. "They have really suffered. They are emotionally drained. At my age, it was very trying to see my daughter behind bars," he told reporters in New Delhi
"It's been an exhausting journey for us. We are really grateful to the high court for having acquitted and ending the injustice meted out to them," said Vandana Talwar, an aunt of Aarushi who was 14 when she was killed.
A division bench comprising Justices BK Narayana and AK Mishra upheld the Talwars' appeal against the CBI court verdict, holding that the circumstances of the case and the evidence on record did not establish a chain showing their involvement in the murders of Aarushi and Hemraj.
Pronouncing the verdict in a packed court room, the bench said that it is a fit case where benefit of doubt can be given to the appellants and set aside the judgment of the CBI court convicting the Talwars who were arrested in May 2008.
The CBI court had relied on circumstantial evidence to convict the couple in the absence of any motive. In his judgment, Additional Sessions Judge Shyam Lal has cited judgements of the Supreme Court to say that the mere fact that the prosecution had failed to "translate that mental disposition of the accused into evidence does not mean that no such mental condition existed in the mind of the assailant."
He said, "In a case of circumstantial evidence, motive does not have extreme significance. In the absence of motive, the conviction based on circumstantial evidence can in principle be made."
Dadhiram Maurya, the jailor of the Dasna prison where the Talwars are lodged, said the couple felt they have got justice.
"After having breakfast they were praying. Their schedule was normal. She (Nupur Talwar) said they got justice today and had tears of joy."
"Any person after spending this amount of jail (time) will feel happy to get freedom. So they were happy after they were told about the news," he said
Lawyer Rebecca John, who was part of Talwars' legal team, said she was relieved by the judgement. She claimed the whole case was based on "innuendos" and would "not have carried through".
John hoped that the Talwars, who have been in media spotlight for over nine years, will be allowed privacy after their release from jail.
Aarushi was found dead inside her room in the Talwars' Noida residence with her throat slit in May 2008. The suspicion initially fell on 45-year-old Hemraj, who at the time, was missing. But his body was recovered from the terrace of the house a day later.
As the Uttar Pradesh Police drew flak over shoddy investigation into the case which was making national headlines, the then chief minister Mayawati recommended a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Published Date: Oct 13, 2017 12:28 pm | Updated Date: Oct 13, 2017 12:32 pm
Aarushi Talwar murder verdict: Two pillow covers could have proved Rajesh-Nupur's innocence sooner
Aarushi Talwar murder case: Missing weapons, contaminated evidence, coerced witnesses among many mistakes committed
Aarushi Talwar case: Allahabad HC junior judge's concurring judgment flays trial judge for 'mockery of law'
