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Sowjanya case: Chethan Singh Rathore replaces Shashikumar as SIT chief

  •   Fri, Oct 30 2026 01:25:45 PM
  •  By Daijiworld Media Network

Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Oct 30: The Karnataka government has appointed Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chethan Singh Rathore as the new head of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the 2012 rape and murder of Sowjanya in Dharmasthala.

The Home Department issued a corrigendum to its September 24 order, revising the appointments to the five-member SIT. Rathore, who serves as IGP, CID, Bengaluru, has been appointed as the team’s chief in place of IGP N Shashikumar.


Chethan Singh Rathore and N Shashikumar

The change comes amid reports that Shashikumar had sought to be relieved of the responsibility of heading the SIT. The reasons for his reported request have not been officially confirmed.

The corrigendum, also names Srinidhi, additional superintendent of police, Hassan district, as a member of the team. All other terms and details of the original government order remain unchanged.

The SIT was constituted following a September 21 Supreme Court order directing a fresh investigation into the rape and murder of 17-year-old Sowjanya, whose body was found in a forested area near the Netravati river in Dharmasthala on October 10, 2012, a day after she went missing while returning from college.

The Supreme Court directed the state government to constitute a team of experienced investigators equipped with modern investigative technology and complete the fresh probe within three months. The team is to submit its final investigation report to the competent court.

The original five-member SIT was headed by Shashikumar. Its other members included Mangaluru City police commissioner C H Sudheer Kumar Reddy, State Intelligence superintendent of police Nisha James, CID superintendent of police Lokesh Jagalasar and Bengaluru Rural additional superintendent of police Venkatesh Prasanna.

The case had earlier been investigated by the Karnataka Criminal Investigation Department and the Central Bureau of Investigation. Santhosh Rao, the sole accused in the case, was acquitted by a trial court in June 2023.

The fresh investigation follows a plea by Sowjanya’s mother, Kusumavathi Gowda, seeking a renewed probe into the case. The Supreme Court directed that the investigation be conducted in accordance with law and clarified that its order should not be construed as expressing an opinion on the role of any individual.

 

 

 

 

 

 
  

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Title: Sowjanya case: Chethan Singh Rathore replaces Shashikumar as SIT chief



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