High Court Explosion After 15 Years
Court’s Sharp Blow to Police: A
False Medical Opinion Used to Bury Truth, Original Post-Mortem Findings suppressed.
Body Found Naked — Yet Story of “Death by Drowning”
Rajesh Pawar v. State of Maharashtra
Criminal Writ Petition No. 4678 of 2014
Order dated: 10 February 2026
Case Similar to Disha Salian’s gang rape and murder case.
Mumbai: In a landmark ruling that has raised serious concerns about the credibility of the investigative process, the Bombay High Court has transferred the probe into the mysterious death of a 13-year-old girl to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The Court observed that the case appeared to have been treated as an “accidental death” from the very beginning, without adequately examining the grave possibility of rape and murder.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Sarang V. Kotwal and Justice Sandesh D. Patil held that an independent investigation was essential to ensure justice, even after a lapse of 15 years.
Rajesh Pawar v. State of Maharashtra, WP No 4678 of 2014
Dead Body Found Naked
The incident dates back to 2010, when the girl went missing during a school camp. Her body was later found lying on rocks near a stream.
The most shocking fact: there were no clothes on the body.
“There was no piece of clothing on the victim’s dead body.”
The Court treated this as an extremely suspicious circumstance warranting serious criminal investigation.
“Pre-Determined Accident Theory” — Court’s Strong Remark
The High Court noted that the investigation appeared to proceed as if the outcome had already been decided — to establish the incident as an accident.
Serious indications of a violent crime were allegedly not examined in depth.
Three Investigations — Same Conclusion
Local Police
State CID
Special Investigation Team
All conducted separate inquiries, yet each concluded that the death was accidental.
The Court found this unsatisfactory and stated that the possibility of rape and murder had not been seriously investigated at all.
CBI Probe — Last Hope for Justice
Despite the long passage of time, the Court emphasized that justice for the victim and her family cannot be denied. Accordingly, the investigation has been handed over to the CBI.
An independent agency is necessary to thoroughly examine all aspects of the case.
Major Setback for Police
The ruling is a severe indictment of the earlier investigation. The judgment underscores that serious crimes cannot be closed as accidents when material circumstances raise grave suspicion.
A Case That Refuses to Fade Away
After 15 years of uncertainty, the decision has rekindled hope that the truth behind the child’s death may finally emerge.
For the victim’s family, the CBI probe represents not just a legal development — but a renewed chance at justice.
