Dentist couple charged in double murder

A special court yesterday charged dentist couple Rajesh Talwar and Nupur Talwar with the 2008 murders of their daughter Aarushi and domestic help, Hemraj. The pair may now plan to challenge the decision in a higher court. Aarushi, 14, was found murdered at her parents' Noida residence on May 16, 2008. The body of Hemraj was found the next day on the terrace of the house. The Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Judge S Lal ruled that Nupur Talwar and Rajesh Talwar were formally charged with murder with common intention and the destruction of evidence with common intention. Rajesh Talwar was also charged for misleading police over the crime. The judge ruled that the pair were to be detained after hearing the arguments of the defence and the prosecution. CBI prosecutor R K Saini contended before the court during arguments that the parents were the killers of their daughter. Furthermore, R K Saini asserted the couple had covered up their tracks and "dressed up" the crime scene to conceal the crime. Opposing the prosecutor's argument, defence lawyer Manoj Sisodia argued that the evidence produced by the CBI should have been ruled as irrelevant. Most importantly, he said, forensic tests conducted by the CBI were not in line with agency procedures. Neither direct nor circumstantial evidence supported the CBI argument to charge the couple, said the defence counsel, who called for the Talwars to be discharged. Talking about the case after the hearing, Sisodia told reporters: "We have applied for a copy of the order. After seeing the contents we may file a revision or challenge the order in a higher court."