On 14 October, Rajesh and Nupur Talwar were released from Dasna jail in Ghaziabad after four years of imprisonment. The Allahabad High Court acquitted the Talwars on benefit of doubt in the Aarushi-Hemraj double murder case.
However, Hemraj’s family now wants to appeal against the High Court’s judgment in the Supreme Court. Hemraj worked as a domestic help in the Talwar household. His body was found 48 hours after he was murdered, on Talwar’s terrace. The body was hidden behind a cooler panel.
Hemraj is survived by his wife, an elderly mother, and two children. They live in Nepal. His daughter married Jeevan, who works for Noida-based businessman Samir Singh.
Singh knows Hemraj’s family for 20 years now. He had been guiding and helping them in their legal battle. He said the family will appeal in the Supreme Court against the High Court judgment.
Yes, they (Hemraj’s family) are planning to appeal against the High Court judgment in the Supreme Court.Samir Singh, Hemraj’s son-in-law’s employer
Hemraj lived with the Talwars in their residence. When the incident happened in May 2008, Hemraj’s family was in Nepal, and his son-in-law, Jeevan, was taken into police custody merely on the grounds of suspicion. However, the Noida olice gave him a clean chit within a week’s time.
As Jeevan was in police custody during the time, Hemraj’s family couldn’t travel to Noida from Nepal to cremate him. And since there was no one from the family to collect his body, Noida olice handed it to the Mool Pravah Akhil Bharat Nepal Ekta Samaj for cremation.
You see, they want to put things behind them. Hemraj’s son, Pranjal, was about the same age as Aarushi when the incident happened. The family never got to see the body of Hemraj, the Ekta Samaj conducted the cremation. Hemraj’s family did not get the closure they need.Samir Singh, Hemraj’s son-in-law’s employer
On the Involvement of Domestic Help and Parents
Upset with the botch-up in the case by different investigating teams, Singh said that from the very beginning the entire crime scene was compromised, because of which none of the investigating teams from the CBI could collect evidence.
When asked who he thinks could be behind the murder, the domestic help or parents, Singh said:
I have said it from Day 1 that I don’t believe that Hemraj could be involved in an incident of drinking, smoking, or partying with his friends at the residence in any form. I don’t believe this at all. I also don’t believe that Hemraj and Aarushi were in a relationship apart from that of father and daughter. I know that man, he worked with me. I know the family for 20 years, and I don’t buy that theory at all.Samir Singh, Hemraj’s son-in-law’s employer
Compensation for Hemraj’s Family
Singh also appealed for compensation for Hemraj’s family who had lost their sole bread winner.
The family is very emphatic that Hemraj died while working for the Talwars, under their watch. They feel justice has been denied to them. And they are looking for some compensation from the Talwars. Hemraj also wasn’t paid his last three months’ salary. The least they can do is pay his family his pending salary.Samir Singh, Hemraj’s son-in-law’s employer
Singh had been assisting Hemraj’s family in their legal battle from the day of the incident.
Jeevan has had been working for Singh for 18 years as an office assistant. Singh and Jeevan were the point person to be contacted by the investigating agencies since Hemraj's family stays in Nepal.
Currently, the family’s earning come from cattle grazing. Hemraj’s son, who was Aarushi’s age when the incident happened, is now pursuing a vocational course in mobile repair.
Earlier, the lawyer of Hemraj, Naresh Yadav, had said that the victims family will approach the Supreme Court against the High Court judgment.
Keeping in mind the financial background of Hemraj’s family, Singh managed to arrange a Supreme Court lawyer, who is ready to fight the case pro bono.
So, even if the CBI doesn’t appeal in the Supreme Court, Talwars will have to fight yet another legal battle.
The popular narrative around the mysterious double murder has been centred around 14-year-old Aarushi’s parents, who were convicted and later acquitted of murdering her. However, there seems to be very little intrigue around Hemraj.
Hemraj’s family is not any less aggrieved than Aarushi’s family, and even the investigating agencies spoke little on the reason behind the murder.
Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
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