Kotkhai murder case: CBI files chargesheet against accused

SHIMLA : The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday filed a chargesheet against the lone accused in Kothkai rape and murder case.

The investigation agency filed chargesheet before the bench of acting chief justice of Himachal high court Sanjay Karol and justice Sandeep Sharma.

CBI informed the high court that a copy of chargesheet has also been filed with the CBI court, where trial will be held.

In 35-page chargesheet, the agency has recorded statements of at least five dozen witnesses annexed with relevant documents. The chargesheet also has the detail of how accused Anil Kumar perpetrated the crime.

The CBI has maintained that it has concrete evidence to try the accused. It claimed that the DNA of the accused matched with the DNA found on crime spot. The court has fixed next date of hearing on June 27.

Anil Kumar alias Nilu was arrested on April 13. Resident of Multhan in Kangra district, he worked as a woodcutter in Kotkhai and surrounding areas. He had fled after the crime

The 16-year-old schoolgirl from Kotkhai went missing on her way home from school at Mahasu on July 4. Her body was found dumped in Halaila forest of Kotkhai two days later. Postmortem report had confirmed that the girl was raped.

The local police initially claimed to have cracked the case and arrested five accused, all of them labourers. The custodial death of one of the accused Suraj led to violent protests. The case was then handed over to CBI.

THE CBI HAS MAINTAINED THAT IT HAS CONCRETE EVIDENCE TO TRY THE ACCUSED