Supreme Court orders fresh CBI probe in 2012 Dharmasthala rape-murder case

The case concerns a request by the victim's mother to direct the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a fresh investigation into the 2012 rape and murder of her 17-year-old daughter, following the acquittal of the sole accused, Santhosh Rao, by the Sessions Court.

Who it concerns: Appellant: Kusumavati Gowda (mother of the victim); Respondents: The Government of Karnataka & Ors.; Bench: Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva.

What the court decided

• The Court noted that the original petitioner (father of the victim) passed away after the High Court order, and the appeal is now prosecuted by the mother.
• The Court reviewed the history of the case, including the acquittal of Santhosh Rao by the Sessions Court on 16.06.2023 and the dismissal of the Writ Petition by the High Court on 30.08.2024.
• The document text provided ends before stating the final operative order or relief granted by the Supreme Court in this specific judgment.

Also in the document

• The Sessions Court acquitted the accused, holding that the prosecution failed to prove the charges and that the investigation was not properly conducted during the 'Golden Hour'.
• The High Court dismissed the petition for reinvestigation, citing that medical and forensic evidence cannot be improved upon.
• The original FIR was registered by Belthangady Police, later handed over to CID, and subsequently to CBI SCB Chennai due to public outcry and allegations of shielding real perpetrators.