SIT Arrives in Mangaluru to Probe 2012 Sowjanya Rape and Murder Case Following Supreme Court Order

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Mangaluru : Members of the newly formed Special Investigation Team (SIT) assigned to re-investigate the 2012 Sowjanya rape and murder case have arrived in Mangaluru and officially commenced the probe. Following a landmark directive issued by the Supreme Court on September 21, the fresh SIT has been instructed to complete its comprehensive inquiry and submit a detailed report to the relevant court within three months.

SIT members, Intelligence SP Nisha James and CID SP Lokesh Jagalasar, arrived in the city to meet Mangaluru City Police Commissioner C.H. Sudheer Kumar Reddy to strategize the roadmap for the investigation. The team is also evaluating locations to establish its operational headquarters, with probabilities of opening offices in both Mangaluru and Belthangady. Reports suggest that the vacant Old DC Office premises in Mangaluru may be utilized by the investigative team. Meanwhile, discussion is underway to appoint either SP Lokesh Jagalasar or another SP rank officer as the lead Investigating Officer under the guidance of IGP-rank officers.

Following the apex court order, the Karnataka Government constituted a five-member SIT on September 24 headed by IGP N. Shashi Kumar. The team includes Mangaluru Police Commissioner C.H. Sudheer Kumar Reddy, Intelligence SP Nisha James, CID SP Lokesh Jagalasar, and Bengaluru Rural ASP Venkatesh Prasanna. However, the inclusion of N. Shashi Kumar and Venkatesh Prasanna triggered public criticism, with Sowjanya’s family members and social activists raising formal objections against ASP Venkatesh Prasanna’s presence on the panel.

In light of these objections, ASP Venkatesh Prasanna has reportedly written to the state government requesting to be recused from the SIT. Reacting to the development, Home Minister Priyank Kharge affirmed that delivering justice remains the government’s primary objective and assured that concerns raised by the victim’s family and the public regarding officer appointments would be taken into account. The Sowjanya case was previously investigated by the state CID and later the CBI, but the main accused, Santhosh Rao, was acquitted by the CBI court due to lack of conclusive evidence, prompting widespread demands for a fresh probe.