Nayagarh: The prime accused in the sensational rape and murder of a five-year-old Nayagarh girl reiterated on Sunday that he has been falsely implicated in the case and he doesn't have any role in the ghastly incident.
"I have been trapped in the case. The SIT officials have tortured me in the prison. I have not done anything wrong. I am innocent," Sethi told media persons while coming out of the court here.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Odisha Crime Branch today produced him in the POCSO court here.
Sethi, a college-goer of Jadupur in Nayagarh which is the native village of the deceased minor girl, was arrested by the SIT on charges of rape and murder of the girl.
SIT head Arun Bothra had earlier explained about the crime before media that Sethi was addicted to child pornography. He had watched such porn videos in the night before committing the crime.
Sethi had earlier also feigned innocence. Besides, his family members and parents of the victim girl have also been blaming the SIT for arresting Sethi and allowing the real culprits to roam scot-free.
Before his arrest, Sethi had levelled serious allegation against SIT-head Bothra, saying that the IPS officer had offered him cash to own up the crime.
The incident triggered a massive political furore after the victim’s parents attempted self-immolation outside the Odisha assembly alleging police inaction and denial of justice.
The ghastly crime also led to a massive political outrage in the State with the BJP demanding CBI probe into the case. Based on the statement of the parents of the victim that Minister Arun Sahoo has shielded the main culprits, the BJP has been demanding action against the minister.
It is worth mentioning, the minor had gone missing on July 14, 2020 while playing outside her house. Nine days later on July 23, her skeletal remains stuffed in a gunny bag were found from the backyard of her house.