Setback in Sowjanya case : HC stays further probe by CBI

Mangalore Today News Network

Belthangady, April 15 , 2017 : In a major setback to the investigation into the Sowjanya rape and murder case, the state High Court on April 11, Tuesday has stayed the further investigation by the CBI into the case. It may be recalled here that a CBI Special Court had recently ordered a further probe into the case as per the petition filed by Sowjanya’s father Chandappa Gowda.

The stay order has now been issued in response to an appeal filed by  Dheeraj Jain, Uday Jain and Malik Jain who have been named as witnesses in the charge sheet filed by the  CBI.  The CBI charge sheet had named  Santosh Rao as  the key suspect.

Meanwhile the trio in their appeal to the High Court had stated that  no probe can be ordered once the charge sheet was filed.

Justice Anand Byrareddy has  granted the stay much to the disappointment of Sowjanya’s parents who have been relentlessly fighting for justice.

Sowjanya, a student of SDM College in Ujire went  missing while returning from college on October 9, 2012 and was found dead at Pangala near Dharmasthala the next day.