Aarushi case: CBI confirms Krishna's arrest

Media speculation on the status of Krishna in the Aarushi Talwar murder case came to an end with the Central Bureau of Investigation making public his arrest. The compounder of Dr Rajesh Talwar, Aarushi father and an accused in the case, was subject to a narco-analysis test in Bangalore on Thursday.

All this while the CBI had maintained that Krishna was a witness and he was being subject to a narco-analysis based on the consent of both parties. However, legal experts maintained that there is no provision under the law to subject a witness to a narco-analysis test, even if he has consented to do so.

CBI sources say that Krishna had been picked up a couple of days back and his arrest was shown to the court. However for investigation purposes they maintained that Krishna was a witness. The CBI felt that by presenting Krishna as a witness the other accused may be tipped off and flee. The CBI had decided to keep the arrest under wraps until they got incriminating evidence from Krishna.

Krishna, during the test, had said that there was a second person involved in the murder. The CBI did not spell out who that person was. However soon after the test, a CBI team left for New Delhi and interrogated a businessman believed to be Dr Talwar's friend. Although Krishna maintained that Dr Talwar may have been innocent the latter was again questioned by CBI sleuths in New Delhi.

Sources say that Krishna will be questioned once again based on the statements given by both the businessman as well as Dr Talwar.

What does this mean?

The CBI's statement in New Delhi that Krishna was arrested means that he is now officially an accused. Sources say that another reason behind concealing the arrest was to ascertain if he really had a role in the murders. It appears that the CBI has got some incriminating evidence against Krishna during the scientific tests and also during the questioning of Dr Talwar and his friend.

As per the law once a person is picked up, he is questioned by the police and then produced in court. Once produced, the arrest becomes public. Legal experts say that if the CBI had not produced Krishna in court before subjecting him to narco-analysis then it would have been a case of illegal detention.