Dharmasthala Sowjanya Rape-Murder Case: CID IG named new SIT Chief
The change in leadership comes a day after reports emerged that initial SIT Chief had conveyed his unwillingness to continue in the role
Mangaluru: The Karnataka government on Friday appointed Inspector General of Police (CID) Chetan Singh Rathore as the new head of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to reinvestigate the 2012 rape and murder of a 17-year-old college student near Dharmasthala.
Rathore replaces IGP N Shashikumar, who had reportedly expressed his desire to step down from the post following petitions from several individuals seeking his removal.
In an amended order issued on Friday, the state Home Department named Rathore as the SIT chief. The government also replaced one of the members of the investigation team, appointing the Additional Superintendent of Police, Hassan district, in place of Bengaluru Rural Additional SP Venkatesh Prasanna.
The order stated that all other provisions of the September 24 notification constituting the SIT would remain unchanged.
The government had constituted the five-member SIT on September 24 following directions from the Supreme Court to conduct a fresh investigation into the case.
The original team comprised Shashikumar as its chief, Mangaluru City Police Commissioner CH Sudheer Kumar Reddy, State Intelligence SP Nisha James, CID SP Lokesh Jagalsar and Bengaluru Rural Additional SP Venkatesh Prasanna.
The SIT was directed to complete the investigation and submit its final report to the competent court within three months.
The change in leadership comes a day after reports emerged that Shashikumar had conveyed his unwillingness to continue as SIT chief. Sources had indicated that he had communicated his decision to senior officials.
Meanwhile, the SIT has already begun its investigation. Officials associated with the earlier investigation have been questioned.