Police unlikely to appeal SC acquittal in '14 rape-murder
Mumbai police
are unlikely to file a review petition against Supreme Court's acquittal in Jan of Chandrabhan Sanap, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a 23-year-old software engineer in 2014.
SC had cited major procedural lapses and evidentiary shortcomings to overturn the conviction.
Police officials said they were reviewing the order and would decide whether to move a review petition. Legal experts, however, said once SC acquits an accused, the case is considered closed and police, as an investigating agency, have no independent right to appeal.
The SC ruling had dealt a significant blow to Mumbai police's crime branch, which had extensively investigated the case.
Officials said they stand by their work but acknowledged that SC's decision is final and binding, leaving no room for further legal recourse by police themselves.
The victim, a software engineer from Andhra Pradesh, went missing upon her arrival by train in the city in Jan 2014. Days later, her partially burnt and decomposed body was found near Eastern Express Highway. Police identified her through her ring, and the postmortem report revealed head trauma, smothering and rape.
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Sanap was arrested after police claimed to have recovered many of the victim's belongings, including a trolley bag and identity card, from him.
The prosecution also relied heavily on CCTV footage from LTT and statements described as extrajudicial confessions.
Holding that guilt must be proven beyond reasonable doubt, SC noted critical gaps in the case. These included the absence of a valid certificate for CCTV footage under Indian Evidence Act, rendering the footage inadmissible; inconsistencies in witness testimonies; and delays in securing key evidence. No forensic corroboration was provided for the alleged rape and there were unexplained gaps in the chain of custody for critical items used to link Sanap to the crime.
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