Esther murder: Crime branch to file charge sheet in May end

The Mumbai crime branch is all set to file the charge sheet in the Esther Anuhya murder case next month. The police have also lost hopes of recovering Esther's laptop that was thrown by accused Chandrabhan Sanap in a river from a moving train.

"We will be filing the chargesheet in the Esther murder case by the fourth week of May. Advocate Raja Thakre will be the special public prosecutor in the case," joint commissioner of police, crime, Sadanand Date told dna.

According to the police, the charge sheet would contain details of the witnessess' statements, phone records of the accused and his friend Nandkishore Sahu, the Nashik based astrologer to whom Sanap had consulted after committing the crime. Forensic report and scientific tests of Sanap would also be part of the evidence.

Seven people had identified Sanap, who is currently lodged in Arthur Road jail during the test identification parade. The witnesses include a few taxi drivers, parking lot attendants and a watchman, who had seen Sanap and Esther at the Lokmany Tilak Terminus.

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.

On March 2, the crime branch arrested Sanap, a resident of Sai Society at Karve Nagar in Kanjurmarg. The police have had earlier recovered Esther's trolley bag and the motorcycle used in the crime. The bike belonged to Sanap's friend Nandkumar Sahu.

"Recovery of Esther's jean pant, T-shirt and her glasses, which Sanap had kept at her sister's house after the murder are the key evidence," said a crime branch officer, part of the probe.