A newly constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrived in Mangaluru on Thursday, October 1, to initiate preparations for the Supreme Court-mandated re-investigation into the high-profile Soujanya rape and murder case. Senior police officials, including Bengaluru Intelligence Division SP Nisha James and Bengaluru CID SP Lokesh Jagalasar, have begun operations from the designated SIT office located on the second floor of the city's old DC office building.
This significant development follows a recent directive from the Supreme Court, which called for a fresh probe into the brutal 2012 incident. The apex court specifically instructed the state government to establish an SIT and present a compliance report within three months. Responding promptly to this order, the state government formed a comprehensive 16-member Special Investigation Team, placing it under the leadership of Inspector General of Police (IGP) N. Shashikumar.
The tragic event, which deeply affected Dharmasthala in Belthangady taluk, involved the rape and murder of 17-year-old Soujanya on October 9, 2012. The re-investigation aims to bring fresh scrutiny to the long-standing case, which has garnered considerable public attention over the years. The formidable SIT comprises several key officers from across the state, including Mangaluru City Police Commissioner C.H. Sudheer Kumar Reddy, Bengaluru Intelligence Division SP Nisha James, Bengaluru CID SP Lokesh Jagalasar, and Bengaluru Rural Additional SP Venkatesh Prasanna. Their presence in Mangaluru signals the official commencement of this critical re-examination. The team is expected to meticulously delve into existing evidence, re-evaluate previous findings, and potentially uncover new leads in their pursuit of justice for Soujanya. Local observers anticipate a thorough and transparent process given the Supreme Court's direct involvement.
Image: varthabharati.in
đź“° Source: Vartha Bharati DK