DNA - India - CBI files third Nithari chargesheet, Pandher let off again - Daily News & Analysis

DNA - India - CBI files third Nithari chargesheet, Pandher let off again - Daily News & Analysis

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CBI files third Nithari chargesheet, Pandher let off again
IANS
Tuesday, April 24, 2007 15:57 IST




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GHAZIABAD: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday once again spared Moninder Singh Pandher of involvement in the Nithari serial killings as it charged his domestic help Surinder Koli for the abduction, rape and murder of a five-year-old girl.

The third chargesheet in the sexual abuse and murder of at least 20 children and women from Nithari village in Noida was filed against Koli, but gave co-accused Pandher a clean chit for the third time in a row.

According to a CBI official, Koli was chargesheeted for offences of a criminal conspiracy to kidnap, rape and murder 15-year-old Payal.

The chargesheet was filed in the court of Ghaziabad Special Judge Sapna Mishra.

The Noida businessman being let off yet again drew a sharp reaction from the families of the victims, some of whom have filed a plea on the issue.

"We can't believe that Pandher was not involved in the killings of our innocent children. We have requested the judge to direct the CBI to look again in the matter," Durga Prasad, the father of a victim, said.

The second chargesheet in the case was filed April 10, naming Koli for the abduction, rape and murder of a 20-year-old woman, Pinki Sarkar.

The investigating agency had filed the first chargesheet March 22 in which Koli was listed as the main accused for the murder of another Payal, 26.

It was Payal's murder that had actually led to the unravelling of the sex-related butcheries in Nithari village in Noida, adjacent to Delhi. Skeletal remains of the victims were found from a drain behind Pandher's Noida bungalow Dec 29.

In the next few days, more than 20 skulls and several bones were discovered from the drain.

The CBI, which took over investigations from the Noida police January 10, has registered 19 cases so far.

According to CBI joint director Arun Kumar, there is no strong evidence against Pandher.

Pandher was only chargesheeted for indulging in immoral trafficking and bribing Simranjeet Kaur, a sub-inspector of the Noida police who has been suspended. The CBI took over the investigation from the Noida police January 10.

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