Fri Sep 13 16:55:58 UTC 2024: ## Karnataka High Court Upholds Acquittal in 2012 Soujanya Rape and Murder Case

**Bengaluru, September 13, 2024:** The Karnataka High Court has rejected a plea for a fresh investigation into the 2012 rape and murder case of 17-year-old Soujanya, a student of SDM College in Ujire. The court upheld the acquittal of the sole accused, Santhosh Rao, stating that the trial court had adequately evaluated the evidence and found no conclusive link between Mr. Rao and the victim.

The decision comes after appeals filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the victim’s father, Chandappa Gowda, and Mr. Rao himself. Both Mr. Gowda and Mr. Rao had sought a reinvestigation to trace the real culprits. Mr. Rao also requested compensation for wrongful prosecution.

The High Court ruled that a reinvestigation would serve no purpose, citing the lack of eyewitnesses and the unavailability of new evidence. The bench also agreed with the trial court’s assessment that the forensic evidence, including DNA analysis, did not connect Mr. Rao to the victim’s remains.

Regarding Mr. Rao’s compensation claim, the court stated that this matter should be addressed through a separate legal process. The court also directed the acquittal committee to expedite its review of the initial police investigation, which had been deemed faulty by the trial court.

The case, initially investigated by local police, was later transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department and finally to the CBI. Despite multiple investigations and chargesheets filed against Mr. Rao, the High Court upheld his acquittal, concluding that the evidence did not support his conviction.

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