NewsFlash Daily™
24 March
Fresh plea by victim’s mother prompts Supreme Court action, hearing set for April 28 as new medical evidence surfaces
Mangaluru: In a significant development in the long-pending Dharmasthala rape and murder case, the Supreme Court of India has issued notices to the Government of Karnataka and the Central Bureau of Investigation, seeking their response on a plea demanding a re-investigation into the case.
Notice Issued, Hearing on April 28
A two-judge bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kumar took up the petition filed by Kusumavathi, mother of the victim Soujanya, and issued notices to the concerned authorities. The matter has been adjourned to April 28 for further hearing.
The petition highlights that new medical evidence has now been submitted before the Supreme Court, challenging earlier findings. It also points out that the Karnataka High Court had previously refused to order a re-investigation, citing a lack of medical evidence.
Brutal Crime That Shocked Karnataka
The case dates back to October 9, 2012, when Soujanya (17), a college student, was allegedly abducted and raped near Dharmasthala in Ujire, under Belthangady taluk of Dakshina Kannada district. Her body was discovered the next day near the Netravati river bathing ghat, sending shockwaves across the state.
CBI Probe and Acquittal
The investigation was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation in 2013. Santosh Rao was arrested shortly after the incident and faced trial. However, in 2023, a special court acquitted him due to lack of conclusive evidence, a verdict that drew widespread debate.
Hope for Justice Rekindled
With the Supreme Court now stepping in, the case has regained national attention, raising hopes for a fresh and comprehensive probe into one of Karnataka’s most controversial criminal cases.
