Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi 

New Delhi, Mar 23: In a significant development in the 13-year-old Sowjanya rape and murder case, the Supreme Court on Monday, March 23, issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as well as the the Karnataka state government.

The order was passed by the apex court while hearing a petition filed by Kusumavathi, the mother of the deceased student.

Sowjanya, a student of SDM College in Ujire and a resident of Pangala in Dharmasthala village, went missing in October 2012. Her body was discovered the following day at Mannasanka, bearing signs of brutal sexual assault and murder. The case, which initially saw an investigation by the Beltangady police and subsequently the CID, was eventually handed over to the CBI.

Acquittal of the accused

During the course of the investigation, a man named Santhosh Rao from Karkala was arrested and charged with the crime. However, after a prolonged legal battle, a special CBI court in Bengaluru recently acquitted Santhosh Rao, citing a lack of evidence.

While delivering the verdict, the special court had pointed out significant lapses in the investigation conducted by the premier agencies. The judge had observed that the investigative teams had failed to identify the actual perpetrators behind the heinous crime.

Appeal in the apex court

Relying on these observations regarding investigative failures, Kusumavathi had initially moved the High Court. Challenging the subsequent orders and seeking a more thorough probe to bring the real culprits to justice, she approached the Supreme Court.

After reviewing the details of the lower court's findings and the grounds mentioned in the appeal, the Supreme Court bench issued the notice to the CBI, directing the agency to submit a report regarding the status and conduct of the investigation, and also the Karnataka state government.

The persistent struggle for justice by the family, which has spanned over a decade, has once again gained national attention with this intervention by the highest court of the land.

• Dharmasthala case: Sowjanya’s mother approaches high court, seeks probe into 74 unnatural deaths
• Sowjanya case: SIT questions maternal uncle; probe takes explosive turn
• Beltangady: SIT summons 3 accused in Sowjanya case; Uday Jain breaks silence
• Beltangady: CBI court acquits Santhosh Rao, accused in Sowjanya rape, murder case
• Beltangady: Sowjanya murder case – CBI special court's verdict on Jun 16
• Beltangady: HC refuses request to order reinvestigation into Sowjanya's death
• Beltangady: Santhosh, lone accused in Sowjanya murder case, granted bail
• Beltangady: Sowjanya murder case-HC stays further probe
• Mangaluru: Sowjanya case - 'Influential people involved, no faith in CBI', says Thimarodi
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• Mangaluru: Sowjanya's parents welcome court order; cops accused of destroying evidence
• Bengaluru: CBI court orders further probe into Sowjanya murder
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• Beltangady: CBI team arrives to probe Sowjanya case
• Sowjanya case: Dheeraj, Mallik, Uday claim smear campaign
• Justice for Sowjanya: Protest reaches Bantwal, students join in
• Karkala: Narco analysis test will bring out the truth - Sowjanya's mother
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• Bangalore: CM confirms CBI probe into Sowjanya murder case
• Beltangady: Finally, Sowjanya case handed over to CBI
• Beltangady: Sowjanya case - Dr Heggade writes to CM urging CBI probe
• Mangalore: CID report false; ready to shed blood to get justice for Sowjanya - Thimarodi
• Demand for CBI enquiry in Sowjanya case echoes in Bantwal
• CID names Santosh as accused in Sowjanya case, gives clean chit to Nischal
• Mangalore: Sowjanya case - Let struggle for justice reach every village - Kemar Swamiji
• Bangalore: CID report in Sowjanya case within a week, says George
• Udupi: Komu Souharda Vedike seeks CBI probe into Sowjanya case
• Beltangady: Sowjanya case will be discussed in parliament: Prakash Karat
• M'lore: Komu Souharda Vedike seeks CBI probe into Sowjanya case
• Beltangady: Justice for Sowjanya - Rally for CBI probe witnesses gigantic crowd
• Beltangady: Stop investigation into Sowjanya case, let CBI handle - Vasanth Bangera
• M’lore: Sowjanya case should be handed over to CBI – HJV
• Kundapur: DYFI demands CBI probe into Sowjanya’s case
• Sowjanya case: Protestors attempt to gherao CM's residence
• Mangalore: On Sowjanya's birthday, students demand CBI probe into her death
• Beltangady: Thimarodi, Sowjanya's parents get grand welcome; CID steps up probe
• Beltangady: My nephew has nothing to do with Sowjanya case - Dr Veerendra Heggade
• Mangalore: Powerful people involved in Sowjanya murder case: Thimarodi
• Mangalore: Sowjanya case - Organizations join hands to demand CBI probe
• Bangalore: Home minister orders fresh CID probe into Sowjanya murder case 
• Beltangady: Sowjanya was Murdered at a Different Spot, Claim Family Members
• Beltangady: Sowjanya Murder - CoD Team Arrives, Begins Probe
• Mangalore: Sri Rama Sene Calls for CBI Probe into Sowjanya Case
• Beltangady: Sowjanya Murder Case Handed over to CoD
• Mangalore: HJV Condemns Dharmasthala GP's Statement Against Kemar Swamiji
• Beltangady Murders - Dr Heggade Calls for Probe, Slams Rumours
• Beltangady: 'Vested Interests Using Sowjanya Case for Publicity'
• Sowjanya Case: MLA Appeals People to Stop Spreading Rumour SMS
• Sowjanya Murder: Kemar Swamiji Calls for Fresh Probe, to File PIL in HC
• Beltangady: Sowjanya Murder Case - Family Demands CoD Probe
• Beltangady: Silent Protest Held Demanding Justice in Sowjanya Murder Case
• Beltangady: Mentally Ill Santhosh Raped, Killed Sowjanya - SP
• Udupi: Students Led by ABVP Condemn Sowjanya's Murder
• Sowjanya Murder - One Arrested, Locals Demand Police to Hand him over
• Beltangady: Sowjanya Murder - Angry Students, Citizens Demand Justice
• Belthangady: 17-year-old Girl Raped, Brutally Killed