New Delhi: The CBI on Saturday filed a chargesheet against eight police personnel, including an inspector-general rank officer, in connection with the custodial death of an accused in the rape-and-murder case of a minor in Kotkhai in Shimla on July 4.
According to sources, the 500 paged chargesheet mentions the evidence of more than 50 witnesses, including the four accused. It was filed in a local court in Shimla.
Superintendent of police DW Negi, the ninth accused in the custodial death who was arrested on November 16, is in judicial custody along with eight others till December 7.
"Since investigation against DW Negi is on and additional chargesheet will be filed later in the court," said a senior CBI officer.
Both the gang rape and custodial death cases are being monitored by the HC that has directed the CBI to file the chargesheet in the custodial death case by November 30.
Police in its probe had said the 16-year-old girl victim was offered a lift in a vehicle by the accused on July 4 when she was returning home from her school in Kotkhai town, 56 km from the state capital. On the way, they raped and murdered her in a nearby forest. Her naked body with injury marks was found two days later. The arrested persons include prime accused Rajinder Singh, who offered her the lift, Ashish Chauhan, Subhash Bisht, Deepak Kumar, Suraj Singh and Lokjan.
Currently all the rape accused are on bail. However, a new twist in the case came after Rajinder Singh allegedly murdered a fellow accused Suraj Singh in the police lock-up on July 19. Inspector-general Zaidi was heading the SIT before the CBI took over the case. At that time, Negi was posted s the superintendent of police where both the crimes occurred.
