Cops to trace Aruna Shanbaug's assailant, if he is still alive

After Aruna Shanbaug passed away at King Edward Memorial hospital on Monday, the Mumbai police are exploring the possibility of adding section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code in the 42-year-old case.

The Bhoiwada police are in the process of collecting information and whereabouts of the accused, Sohanlala Walmiki, who was convicted for robbery and attempt to murder in 1974.

According to the Bhoiwada police, who registered the case against Walmiki in 1973, they will have to check whether he is still alive to slap the sections of murder in the case. "We will have to first figure out whether Walmiki is alive or dead and in what condition he is. If he is alive then it makes sense to apply the section of murder. If he is dead, the case automatically closes," said senior police inspector Sunil Tondwalkar from Bhoiwada police station. He added, "The Mumbai police commissioner will take a final call on adding new sections in the case. Once we know the status of Walmiki, we will inform the commissioner and further steps will be taken as per his guidance."

Meanwhile, Bhoiwada police has launched a search for the Shanbaug case papers, which trail as far back as 42 years. " We have been able to maintain the documents that are at the most 20 years old, but as this case is more than 40 years old, we are not sure whether Shanbaug's papers would be in the records," said Tondwalkar.

In an attempt to retrieve the case papers, some police officers have been sent to the sessions court to check the court records. "We have also sent our men to the sessions court, hoping they might have the papers in their records," said Tondwalkar.