Sowjanya rape and murder case: CBI court grants bail to accused Santhosh Rao

Mangalore Today News Network

Belthangady, Apr 13, 2017 : The CBI court on April 13 , Thursday has  granted bail to accused Santhosh Rao who was arrested four years ago in Sowjanya rape  and murder case. The High Court stay on further investigations into the case.

 

Sowjanya, a II PU student, of SDM College  was found dead in Ujire near Dharmasthala on October 10, 2012. While the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had investigated the case, the charge-sheet was filed by the CBI. It named Santosh Rao, a contract labourer from Kumdapura, as the only accused in the charge sheet.

However, the CBI court observed that there could be more than one person involved in the case and said that there were no eye-witnesses to prove that Santosh Rao was an accused.

 

The scientific evidence, including the medical test and FSL examination results, did not prove Santosh Rao’s involvement in the crime and as he has already served over four years in jail. The CBI court considered his plea and let him off on bail. Advocate Bhaskar Holla,was contesting Sowjanya’s case.

 

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

Sowjanya’s parents are disappointed as they were relentlessly fighting for justice.