NGO appeals in Aradhana case

Child rights activists have appealed against the police report in the Aradhana case. The petitioners requested the court to reopen the investigation, which was dropped by Market police a week ago. The complainants requested the court to hand over the case to an agency other than the police. The petitioner, Balala Hakkula Sangam’s advocate C. Damodhar Reddy, said the police had been biased from the very beginning of the investigation. “Since the police was biased the probe must be handed over to another agency. The investigation should be carried out under the direct supervision of the court,” the NGO said.

Child rights activist Achyuth Rao said they do not trust the police. “The investigation had been onesided from the beginning. So another agency should take over the probe,” he said.

The petition was filed in the court of the 10th Metropolitan Magistrate, Secunderabad, and the case has been posted to April 24.

Earlier, in a report submitted to the same court, police argued that there was no evidence to support the allegations against the parents. There are also no witnesses to back the claim that Aradhana was forced to fast.

The 13-year-old Aradhana from the Jain community died after fasting for 68 days. After activists lodged a complaint alleging culpable homicide, Jain organisations from across India sent letters to the police brass and the government explaining the religious importance of fasting and asking them to close the case.