No evidence against Krishna, says lawyer

GHAZIABAD: On a day when Krishan, the main accused in the Aarushi-Hemraj murder case, broke down in a Ghaziabad court, his counsel F C Sharma told the court that CBI had nothing against his client and yet wanted to hold on to him. "Krishna had been in CBI’s illegal custody from June 3 to June 13. On June 13, he was officially arrested. But, CBI has nothing to show for its investigations. In fact, nothing has been produced against Krishna in the 37 days since the murder of Aarushi and Hemraj."

When Sharma asked CBI what more tests they needed to conduct on Krishna, CBI counsel said: "We cannot reveal this in an open court. But the investigations have been carried out vigorously, all through."

Turning to his sister, Parvati, and other relatives present in court, a weeping Krishna said he was innocent. Parvati consoled him: "Everything will be alright. Just have faith."

If the CBI claims to have a confession from Krishna, it may not amount to much since it won’t be admissible in court as evidence. It is to be seen whether the defence is using this to weaken CBI’s case. And, if CBI indeed has any case against him or not.

Krishna had been first picked up for questioning by the Noida police just after Aarushi’s body was found lying in a pool of blood on her own bed. That was from his home, around 6.30am on May 16. But, later, he was brought in as a witness and to help the police find Hemraj till the latter’s body was found. He was then questioned for a week, like many others, and then allowed to go.

Member of a family of four, who live in a room in retired Group Captain K N Johri’s house in Jalvayu Vihar, Krishna was detained by CBI on June 3 and put under the scanner in Bangalore.

On the evening of June 13, CBI’s Arun Kumar, declared: "Krishna has made a confessional statement". The FIR earlier filed by CBI pertained to murder, concealment of evidence and entering into a criminal conspiracy.

But Krishna’s sister, Parvati, and other family members told reporters that he had been at home on the night of May 15. "He returned from work around 9pm and went to sleep after dinner, around 10pm," Parvati claimed.

On June 15, a CBI team took Krishna to the Talwar home to re-enact the incident and next day they searched the drains and terrace of Dr Talwar’s house, drawing a blank.

The khukri of Krishna, which was collected by CBI for forensic examination last week and which Krishna allegedly said had been asked for by Hemraj, had once earlier been checked out by CBI.

Meanwhile, retired Group Captain K N Johri — whose daughter lives in Singapore where Parvati works for her — told TOI that Krishna was being framed. "He looked genuinely shocked when I told him about Aarushi’s murder, minutes after her body was found.”

Other domestic helps being questioned are Vijay Mandal and Rajkumar, who works for Dr Anita Durani. Dr Rajesh Talwar is in judicial remand and his bail plea will come up for hearing on June
26.