The Vijayawada Metropolitan Sessions Court on Saturday rejected a petition to reopen the Ayesha Meera murder case, that was filed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Citing technical grounds, and claiming that the case did not come under the Vijayawada court's jurisdiction, the fourth additional metropolitan judge rejected the petition.
Ayesha Meera, a 17-year-old B pharmacy student was murdered on December 27, 2007.
Her naked body was found on the second floor of her hostel in Ibrahimpatnam, outside the toilet. The police stated that she was stabbed to death.
On September 29, 2010, the Vijayawada special sessions court convicted Satyam Babu and sentenced him to imprisonment for life.
However, on March 31, 2017, the Hyderabad Court acquitted Satyam Babu of the charges, stating that he spent almost eight years in jail for a crime which he didn’t commit.
Following this, the state government constituted an SIT to re-investigate the case.
The Deccan Chronicle reported that Andhra Pradesh Special Legal Adviser Sai Raghu had submitted the petition recently seeking permission from the Vijayawada court, to re-investigate the case.
The rejection of the petition has further delayed the case, as the SIT will have to file another petition in the Hyderabad High Court and wait for its directives to begin a fresh probe, TOI reported.
Earlier this month, Ayesha's parents expressed displeasure at the state's move of constituting an SIT and said that that they had demanded a CBI enquiry.
“We submitted representations to the Chief Minister, the Home Minister and the National Women Commission seeking an inquiry into the case by the CBI. But the government formed an SIT, which will be of no use. There are chances of political leaders influencing the local police, who will book another youth like Satyam Babu. The fresh investigation should be done under the supervision of the Hyderabad High Court,” Ayesha’s mother, Shamshad Begum, told media persons.
Ayesha’s parents have continued to maintain for close to a decade, that Satyam Babu was innocent and was being framed by the police.
They have consistently pointed fingers at Koneru Satish, grandson of former Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Koneru Ranga Rao.
Her parents have claimed at various times that Koneru Satish frequently visited Ayesha's hostel along with friends and relatives, including Koneru Suresh, Abburi Ganesh, Chinita Pawankumar and Rakesh.
They also alleged that the warden, Koneru Padma, allowed them to enter the girls' hostel as they were relatives.
The parents held these people squarely responsible for their daughter's death.