Published Sep 25, 2026 | 9:20 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 25, 2026 | 9:33 AM
Sowjanya’s mother had approached the Karnataka High Court seeking a fresh investigation.
Synopsis: Karnataka has constituted a five-member SIT to conduct a fresh investigation into the 2012 rape and murder of a 17-year-old in Ujire, Dakshina Kannada following a Supreme Court order directing a de novo probe within three months. The Court barred the new SIT from including officers involved in earlier investigations and ruled that Santhosh Rao, who was acquitted in the case, cannot face further investigation or prosecution.
The Karnataka government has constituted a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a fresh investigation into the 2012 rape and murder of a 17-year-old pre-university student in Ujire, Dakshina Kannada district.
The State issued an order on Thursday, 24 September, constituting the SIT, headed by Inspector General of Police N Sashikumar. The other members are Mangaluru City Commissioner of Police CH Sudheer Kumar Reddy, State Intelligence Commissioner Nisha James, CID Commissioner Lokesh Jalasar and Additional Commissioner, Bengaluru Rural District, Venkatesh Prasanna.
The order comes days after the Supreme Court, on 21 September, directed a de novo investigation, to be completed within three months, with the final police report or chargesheet to be submitted before the competent court.
The apex court has specifically directed that no officer who was part of the earlier investigations by the Belthangady police, Karnataka CID or the CBI should be included in the new SIT.
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Setting aside the 30 August, 2024 order of the Karnataka High Court, the Supreme Court directed Karnataka to constitute an SIT comprising efficient investigators conversant with modern investigative technology and headed by a senior State police officer.
The Court also directed that Santhosh Rao, who was tried and acquitted by the Sessions Court in the case, cannot be subjected to another investigation or prosecution in the same case.
“Since, Santhosh Rao has already been tried and acquitted by the Sessions Court in the subject FIR, he enjoys the protection of Article 20 (2) of the Constitution of India and Section 300 CrPC from being tried or prosecuted a second time, he shall not be subjected to further investigation or prosecution,” the order notes.
The Court also directed that the SIT “shall conduct the investigation without being influenced by anything stated on merits in this order”.
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The victim was reported missing on 9 October, 2012, while returning home from classes. Her body was found near Ujire the following day.
The case was originally registered by the Belthangady police. The CBI took up the case in March, 2014.
A CBI special court in Bengaluru acquitted Santhosh Rao in June 2023 after the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The trial court also raised concerns about lapses in the investigation.
The victim’s mother later approached the Karnataka High Court seeking a fresh investigation. The High Court dismissed the petition in August 2024, after which she moved the Supreme Court.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
