CBI to soon begin probe into Aarushi murder

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in all probability will soon begin a probe into the murder of Noida teenager Aarushi Talwar and her family's domestic help, an official said on Friday.

He confirmed that the agency had received a letter from the central government requesting its opinion on a request from the Uttar Pradesh government to take over the probe into the gruesome May 16 murders.

"We received a letter on Friday seeking our opinion in the murder case. We have not replied yet but the chances are very likely that we take up the case next week," a CBI official said Saturday.

The Uttar Pradesh government had routed its request through the department of personnel and training (DoPT).

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati had Thursday sought a CBI probe into the murders.

Aarushi, a class 9 student of Delhi Public School (Noida) was found dead with her throat slit in her family's Jal Vayu Vihar apartment on May 16. The police initially named domestic help Hemraj as the prime accused but backtracked after his dead body was found on the building's terrace May 17.

Aarushi's dentist father Rajesh Talwar was arrested May 23. The police claimed he killed Aarushi in a fit of rage as he objected to her closeness to Hemraj, but the family has strenously denied the police allegations.