Nupur could influence witness, no bail for her: CBI to SC

The Central Bureau of Investigation has opposed in the Supreme Court the bail plea of dentist Nupur Talwar in twin murder case of her daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj, saying she might try to influence key witnesses during her trial.

"There is reasonable ground (to believe) that the release of the petitioner at this crucial stage of trial on bail will be prejudicial to the trial as material witnesses, who are ex-employees or friends of the petitioner, are yet to be examined," the CBI said in its reply filed in the apex court.

"The petitioner (Nupur) could interfere with the said witnesses to attempt to influence them to depose in her favour. The prior conduct of petitioner for which she was

charged under Section 201 of IPC (causing disappearance of evidence, or giving false information to screen offender) demonstrates that there is a grave apprehension of tampering with the evidence by the petitioner," the agency said.

A bench of justices A K Patnaik and J S Khehar, which had issued notice to the CBI on July 16, will take up Nupur's bail plea on August 13.

Nupur, who has been in jail since her surrender before the Ghaziabad court on April 30, had moved the apex court challenging the Allahabad high court's order which had on May 31 dismissed her plea for bail.

The trial court had on May 2 rejected Nupur's bail plea. She had surrendered before the trial court following a stern direction from the Supreme Court, which had also refused to stay the non-bailable warrant issued against her by the lower court on her failure to appear before it despite its summons to her.

Fourteen-year-old Aarushi was found dead in her bedroom at the Talwar's residence in Jalvayu Vihar, Noida, on the intervening night of May 16-17, 2008. The body of Hemraj was found on May 17 on the terrace.

Holding that there is prima-facie evidence against the couple, the Ghaziabad court had ordered framing of charges of murder and destruction of evidence against Nupur and her dentist-husband Rajesh.

The apex court had earlier refused to give her any relief and allowed her trial in the murder case along with Rajesh. It had also dismissed her review petition challenging summons issued by a special CBI court in the case and warned her of 'exemplary costs' for any frivolous litigation.