Bengaluru: The Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) which was probing the sensational Sowjanya Rape and Murder case has concluded that Sri Kshethra Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade’s family had no role to play in the said murder of II PUC student of SDM College.

Sowjanya, 17 was found raped and murdered on October 10, 2012 about eight kilometres away from Dharmasthala and the dead body was recovered from a forest close to her house. Sowjanya murder case had stirred agitations in the region and the incident also grabbed state-level attention with some making allegations of influential people, specifically Heggade’s family members having involved in the heinous crime.

The criminal investigations department (CID) was probing the case earlier, but it was subsequently handed over to CBI on 6 November in 2013.

Heggade’s advocate P P Hegde in a release has stated that the rape and murder were caused by the accused Santhosh and the same has been stated in the CBI report as well. Santosh was arrested by police relating to the case.

CBI in its report says that there is absolutely no evidence to prove that the family of Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade is involved in the rape and murder in any way.