Proposed SIT must probe then PSI Yogesh for framing innocent in Sowjanya case

Bengaluru

The newly proposed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the murder of 17-year-old Sowjanya must investigate then Belthangady police sub-inspector Yogesh Kumar. Kumar had arrested an innocent identified as Santosh Rao. 

After 14 years and three failed investigations, the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday ordered de novo investigation into rape and murder of Sowjanya. The SC pronounced order after hearing the special leave petiton filed by Kusumavati, mother of Sowjanya

The minor was killed on October 9, 2012 and her body was found at Mannasanka at Dharmasthala village on October 10. 

On October 11, according to SC records, a person identified as Santosh Rao was caught by Mallik Jain and Ashrith Jain. Two days after he was caught, then PSI Yogesh Kumar arrested Rao. He had sustained 17 injuries. Initially local police conducted the probe, later due to public outcry the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) carried out the probe. 

The CBI submitted a chargesheet against Rao. But the CBI court acquitted him citing zero evidence against him in the chargesheet. The SC in its order directed the Karnataka State that Rao must not be subjected to investigation by the proposed SIT. This clearly indicates Rao is innocent.

Even though Rao was caught on October 11, Yogesh Kumar arrested him on October 13. According to SC records, Rao was beaten by the very locals who caught him. For two days, Rao may be kept in illegal custody and may had been subjected to torture to make false confession to killing Sowjanya. The SIT must look into this aspect deeply and Kumar should be tried for this alleged act. 

After the arrest, there is a suspicion that Yohesh Kumar allegedly colluded with the locals to create false evidence against Rao. This is an even more serious offence. 

The SIT must look into the money angle to find out how much money was paid to Yogesh and other senior police officers to frame the innocent. The SIT must also question the then Superintendent of Police (SP), Abhishek Goyal as he was monitoring the case. Investigating both will lead to real culprits in the case. 

Blrpost.com contacted Yogesh Kumar for his reaction, but he was not available. A person who picked the call on his behalf said he was currently unavailable and he will call back. He did not phoned untill this report was published. The story will be updated if he responds.