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On 15 December, Hemraj’s wife Kumbhkala filed an appeal in the Supreme Court (SC) against the Allahabad High Court judgment acquitting Drs Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, in the mysterious double murder of their daughter Aarushi. In an exclusive interview to The Quint, Kumbhkala demanded justice for her husband’s murder.
Hemraj worked as a domestic help at the Talwars’ residence, and was found dead a day after Aarushi was killed in May 2008. Hemraj’s family – a mother, a wife and a son – live in Nepal. Recently, Kumbhkala came to Delhi to file the appeal in the SC when a senior Supreme Court lawyer agreed to fight her case pro bono.
The mysterious double murder case had always thrown up two main theories:
The first theory
Accused: Talwar couple are the murderers; motive: honour killing.
The second theory
Accused: Talwar’s compounder Krishna, and two domestic help, Rajkumar and Vijay Mandal; motive: attempt to rape.
Recollecting her telephonic conversation with Hemraj, Kumbhkala said her husband treated Aarushi like his own daughter.
She thinks the Talwars are responsible for the murder of both her husband and their daughter, through a process of elimination.
Hemraj earned Rs 7,000 per month as domestic help at the Talwars’ residence. According to Kumbhkala, the Talwars didn’t pay her the last three months’ of his salary, and didn’t even bother to contact the family after the murders.
Hemraj was the sole breadwinner of his family. Now, it’s her brother and sister who have to give her financial support.
After spending so many years waiting for justice, she said, she cannot forget the day when she saw the Talwars on TV, walking out of jail.
The Supreme Court is the last hope for Hemraj’s family.
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