Date:17/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/17/stories/2008061750450100.htm

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Another help picked up in Aarushi case

Staff Reporter

CBI dismisses reports of “imminent arrest” of Nupur Talwar as speculative

NEW DELHI: The domestic help of a neighbour of Dr. Rajesh Talwar, arrested by the Noida police in connection with the murder of his daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj, has been picked up by the Central Bureau of Investigation for questioning. On Monday, the agency conducted a search at the garage where he lives.

Vijay Mondal, who works at the residence of a retired commodore, was detained late on Sunday evening after his name cropped up during the interrogation of Raj Kumar — the domestic help of the Talwars’ family friends Durranis — and Krishna, Dr. Talwar’s compounder, who was arrested in the double murder case this past week.

Talking to reporters on Monday, CBI Joint Director (Special Crime) Arun Kumar said Raj Kumar had been subjected to a polygraph test. While the findings of the test are awaited, the agency has received an interim report from the Andhra Pradesh Forensic Science Laboratory on the contents of a digital camera seized from Dr. Talwar’s residence. However, the CBI did not reveal the findings of the report. Mr. Kumar said reports in the media suggesting “imminent arrest” of Dr. Talwar’s wife Nupur were speculative and “as of now” without basis. He, however, said Nupur had been subjected to a polygraph test at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Delhi on June 13 and a psychological assessment at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences on June 7. On Monday evening, a team of forensic experts from AIIMS held a meeting with senior CBI officials to re-assess the evidence collected in the case so far.Earlier in the day, a CBI team accompanied by Krishna again carried out a search for the weapons of offence around Dr. Talwar’s residence. Armed with metal-detectors, the team scanned the bushes and drains.

The agency had on Sunday searched the terrace of Dr. Talwar’s house.

Krishna, who is presently in CBI custody, will be produced in a Ghaziabad court after his three-day remand ends on Tuesday. The agency may seek extension of his custody for further questioning.