Bhubaneswar: After the accused in Pipili gang rape and murder case were acquitted by the Bhubaneswar Additional District Judge on Monday, questions are now being raised on Odisha Crime Branch's probe.
A copy of the judgement letter obtained by OTV revealed that while there were no eye witnesses in the case, the circumstantial evidences provided by the prosecution were not accepted by the court.
"Prosecution failed to prove the circumstances to be proved. No complete chain is established to come to the conclusion that the accused has committed the crime," the judgement read (sic).
The court maintained that the lie detection test or polygraph test of accused Prasanta Pradhan and Sukanta Pradhan is not substantial evidence. Also, during the extra judicial confession, the five witnesses didn't reveal anything.
As per the court verdict "Call detail reports are proved as Ext 34 and 35 with objection by defence as it is not proved according to Section 65 B of Evidence Act." (sic)
"The chain of circumstantial evidences was broken so the court observed that the accused can't be held guilty," defence counsel, Siddharth Das said.
"This is not the last court. We will move the Orissa High Court," additional public prosecutor Kamdev Tripathi said.
On the other hand, mother of the victim has demanded a CBI probe into the case. "On what grounds the accused were acquitted? I demand a CBI investigation into the case," she said.
On Monday, Bhubaneswar Additional District Judge had acquitted prime accused Prashant Pradhan and his brother Sukant due to lack of evidence against them.
It is pertinent to mention here that the victim, then a 19-year-old girl from Arjungoda of Pipili in Puri district, went into coma after being allegedly gang raped on November 28, 2011. She was found unconscious and semi-naked in a paddy field in her village. After remaining in coma for over six months, the girl had died at SCB hospital in Cuttack in June 2012.