‘Defamatory journalists should be booked’

Nupur Talwar, mother of Aarushi Talwar, hits out at the media in an interview with SHOBHITA NAITHANI

There are reports quoting “CBI sources” that the Talwars had booked rooms in a south Delhi hotel on the night of May 15. Both the police and CBI have denied these reports. Who do you think was behind this?
There was a completely baseless and concocted story in TV channels and some newspapers that Dr Talwar and I spent the night of 15th May outside the house in some hotel. It went on to fabricate that we had booked around a dozen rooms in the hotel. The objective of this was clearly to defame me and my family. The story was attributed to CBI sources. This story was later rubbished by the CBI as ‘untrue and speculative’. While we believe that the media has a very important role in bringing out the truth, I am very pained by the way in which some sections of the media have been fabricating baseless stories which are far removed from the facts and are not only speculative but also scurrilous.

Do you ever wish to get even with those engineering such incriminating stories?
There has to be some mechanism of accountability within the media, and those who deliberately defame should be brought to book. We hope that the regulatory authorities will take notice of those actions which are irresponsible and we are considering appropriate action against the offending and irresponsible sections of the media.

Are you satisfied with the way the investigations in the case have unfolded after CBI took over the inquiry? It seems to have only turned murkier with every passing day.
The question is not of my satisfaction. What is needed is that the truth should come out and the culprits be punished. Dr Rajesh Talwar is 100 percent innocent and we hope that the CBI investigations will establish this.

What according to you is the reason for the CBI to keep Dr Rajesh Talwar in custody even after 45 days of his arrest? They continue to say his role in the case is still under scrutiny without actually presenting any sort of evidence against him.
Dr Rajesh Talwar was arrested by the Noida Police which bungled miserably in the investigations and to save its face, arrested Dr Talwar. Thereafter the CBI took over the investigations. Much of the forensic evidence had already been lost by then. Despite this handicap, it seems quite evident that the CBI has been working steadfastly in collecting evidence to crack the case. We sincerely hope that their efforts would lead to the truth and Dr Talwar, who is absolutely innocent, will be released from custody.

Do you think there is pressure not to release him till the CBI gets hold of the murderers?
I think that only the CBI would know their thought processes. I do hope that Rajesh is released as soon as possible.

Of the many people who have been questioned, do you think any of them are remotely connected with the murders?
I think it is the responsibility of the investigating agencies to check all possible angles and that is what they seem to be doing. I hope their efforts bring out the truth at the earliest.

Who according you has committed the biggest blunder in the case — the police, the CBI or the media?
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