Kiran Thakre felt a great weight off her shoulders after the magistrate's court on Wednesday ordered further probe by the Criminal Investigation Department into the death of her youngest sister Yogita.
For Kiran, her other sister Nisha, and their parents Vimal and Ashok Thakre, the past three years were fraught with anguish and anxiety. When Yogita's body was found in a car parked outside Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nitin Gadkari's house on May 19, 2009, the world ended for the family. Kiran says she did not expect justice after the way the police handled the case. The CID probe, too, was full of loopholes, and the family was firm on moving the Bombay High Court for a CBI inquiry.
Victory of sorts
“I did not expect that the CID report seeking closure of the case would be rejected today [Wednesday]. I thought the court would give another date,” she said. However, she felt the family would not get any justice from further investigation. But it is still a victory of sorts, she said. “I was so tense all this while, now I can relax and I hope something will happen.”
Naresh Kolhe, lawyer for the family, said a writ petition seeking a CBI probe would soon be filed in the High Court. The CID, he pointed out, had only recorded the statements of the people and had done nothing else as the magistrate highlighted in her order. Furthermore, the CID had not investigated the matter as per the High Court's orders.
Isolated in fight
The family had been isolated in its fight for justice. On Tuesday, it staged a dharna near the legislature. The Thakres also met Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil, who promised to closely monitor the case and ensure justice. Yogita's mother, a domestic help, was seeking information through the Right to Information Act and written many letters to the Home Department, demanding a CBI probe. Vimal felt her daughter was murdered — and the injuries on the body testified to her point.
‘No place for us'
The family was evicted once from its house and now faced pressure to leave its present home. “No one wants to give us a place to stay,” said Kiran. The family was insecure, facing another hunt for a house.
