Charge sheet filed in Esther Anuhya case

Eighty five days after the Mumbai crime branch arrested 27-year-old Chandrabhan Sanap for allegedly killing a young TCS employee, Esther Anuhya, the investigating agency on Monday finally filed a bulky charge sheet. The agency, in its 542-paged charge sheet, has recorded the statement of 76 witnesses, thereby charging Sanap with as many as eight charges.

Apart from the charges of kidnapping, robbery and destruction of evidence, the agency has charge sheeted Sanap for rape as well as murder.

A crime branch source on condition of anonymity said, "We have already handed over the charge sheet copy to Sanap in jail."

However, when this correspondent asked the agency's official about the contents of the charge sheet, the official was tight-lipped about it.

Even the advocate appearing on behalf of the crime branch refused to throw any light on the aspect. Public prosecutor, Kiran Bendbhar said, "I can only inform you that the agency has filed the 542-paged charge sheet copy in the case and that it has names of as many as 76 witnesses. Apart from this, we cannot reveal anything in the matter."

Esther (23) had gone missing on January 5 after she arrived in Mumbai. Her body was found on January 16 by her family in bushes near Eastern Express Highway in Kanjurmarg. A case was registered by the police and was later transferred to the crime branch.