Aarushi-Hemraj verdict: This is not justice, say Talwars family

Family and friends of  Nupur and Rajesh Talwar have called the ‘guilty’ verdict in the sensational Aarushi-Hemraj murder case a ‘big disappointment’. The court convicted the couple of murder, destruction of evidence and conspiracy. When asked about the next step for the Talwars, Dr Vandana Talwar, family member and Aarushi’s aunt, said that “The next step will decided by the lawyers. It will be based on the court’s order and once we get to see the full court order, the next step will be decided.” It is likely that the Talwars will appeal the verdict. Dr Vandana Talwar expressed disappointment at the verdict saying, “ We are not at all happy with the judgement and there has been no justice for us. Rajesh and Nupur are completely innocent and the whole case was pre-decided against them. CBI has suppressed the evidence that would have proved that Rajesh and Nupur are completely innocent. There was extreme prejudice against us in the case from the beginning. If the case was based on proper evidence, Rajesh and Nupur would have been declared innocent.” Another of Aarushi’s aunts, Shree Paradkar, who is based in Toronto Canada, told CNN-IBN that “That the verdict has left me disappointed in India. Three different agencies came up with three different conclusions. It has left me very disillusioned and this was a case based on perception.” [caption id=“attachment_1249211” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Nupur and Rajesh Talwar when they arrived at court for the verdict. AFP[/caption] “In the last five years, the only conversation I’ve had with them is on this case. They’ve not had the chance to grieve their daughter at all,” she added. “CBI’s evidence has shown that three people were there in Hemraj’s room that night. Murder has to be proven beyond reasonable doubt. Has the CBI done this in this case? I don’t think so,” she added when asked about the issue of circumstantial evidence. Fiza Jha a friend of Arushi’s told CNN-IBN that she was extremely disappointed in the verdict. “I’ve known Aarushi since she was ten and the police’s theory that was she involved with her servant is completely flawed. Two innocent people have been sentenced while the real culprits have not been caught. Justice has completely failed", she said. Once the verdict came out, Twitter was predictably flooded with tweets and the hashtag #Aarushi was trending on the site. Kiran Bedi, whose well known for giving quick reactions on Twitter, was restrained and said in a tweet that, “Arushi case with contradictions in forensic evidence,and inherent differences in police assessments,is a nightmare for any Judicial verdict and that reading of Arushi judgement alone will reveal evidence which Court relied on &CBI did not! Lesson for investigation+ entire legal fraternity.” She said she was reserving her comments on the guilty verdict until it was clear what new evidence was used by the CBI after it’s closure report was filed in October 2010. NDTV’s Barkha Dutt tweeted saying that “No matter which way you think of it, its so sad. If Innocent, a travesty, if guilty, the bigger travesty of parents as killers.” #aarushi CNN-IBN deputy editor Sagarika Ghose also took to Twitter and posed ten questions for the CBI. She asked why the request for DNA evidence was turned down and whether the “media stereotypes of the “posh” “elitist” couple prod CBI to go for Talwars just to prove “impartial?"” Shivam Vij on Twitter pointed out that in the frenzy over Aarushi murder, most, including the media had forgotten about Hemraj. “Can someone in the media find a friend or family member or lawyer of Hemraj to speak as well? Does the life of a Nepali house help matter?,” he tweeted. Smita Sharma from CNN-IBN also tweeted saying , “Defence lawyer-“Prosecution has no forensic evidence,only last seen theory.” Even after verdict today clearly battle to continue.” Shobhaa De however chose to link the event with the overshadowing of the Tehelka sex-assault case and tweeted saying that the ‘So, the verdict is out. Nation distracted. Good news for Tehelka!.” Here are some tweets below on the verdict: 

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