Sowjanya’s murder remains a significant case in Karnataka’s collective memory—not only because her killer was never found, but also due to flaws in the justice system. Sowjanya, a 17-year-old college student from Belthangady, was brutally raped and murdered in October 2012. Despite multiple investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), her killer hasn’t been found.
The case came back into public memory recently after Kannada YouTuber Sameer MD released a 39-minute video detailing the unsolved murder and the botched investigation. Although the video has renewed interest in the case and raised questions about justice for Sowjanya’s family, another key question remains: were the policemen responsible for the botched investigation held accountable? Though the CBI court said that the police officers should be probed it does not seem like the Karnataka Police Department has initiated any action against them.
A flawed investigation and acquittal
Sowjanya, a second-year Pre-University student of the Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College, went missing on October 9, 2012 and was found dead the next day near the Nethravathi river, her hands bound to a tree with her shawl.
Santhosh Rao, the man arrested for the crime was acquitted by the CBI Court on June 16, 2023. Throughout the legal proceedings, Sowjanya’s family maintained that Santhosh had been wrongfully implicated, alleging flaws in the investigation and claiming that the real perpetrators were shielded.
The CBI court’s verdict exposed shocking lapses in the investigation. Evidence was either planted or ignored, medical reports were tampered with, and the entire probe was deemed flawed. The case against Santhosh relied on three key points: his confession, the recovery of his clothes, and injury marks. However, the court found none of these were conclusive enough to prove his guilt.
After the acquittal, Sowjanya’s father, Chandappa Gowda, pursued the case, filing a writ petition seeking a fresh investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and action against officials responsible for the botched investigation. Chandappa passed away on January 19, 2025, after battling cancer. The Karnataka High Court rejected the plea for reinvestigation in April 2024, stating that no purpose will be served even if reinvestigation is permitted.
Was the case put before an acquittal committee?
The CBI court in 2023 didn’t just acquit Santhosh—it also noted that “this is a fit case to be placed before the acquittal committee for initiating action against the erring officials.”
In 2014, the Karnataka government established a three-stage review system to examine systemic loopholes contributing to high acquittal rates. These committees, formed at the District, Range, and State levels, are tasked with identifying flaws in investigations and prosecutions. However, it remains unclear whether Sowjanya’s case was ever brought before such a committee. TNM has reached out to officials but has not received a response.
Circle Inspector Bhaskar Rai, who admitted in court that he failed to collect crucial CCTV footage and expert reports on Santhosh’s injuries, was promoted to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) rank. Sub-Inspector Yogesh Kumar Naik, the investigating officer, told the court that CCTV footage from a key location—adjacent to the main road and near a clinic run by the Dharmasthala temple management—was never collected. This footage could have been crucial evidence. The police officer added that details from mobile towers were collected but not handed over to his successor.
He was transferred out of Belthangady. Later, when posted in Bengaluru, Yogesh was allegedly involved in a kidnapping case and was suspended.
The Police Act stipulates that officers neglecting their duty can face disciplinary action. The Indian Penal Code and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita also prescribe severe penalties for fabricating evidence or concealing facts. Officers who tamper with evidence can be imprisoned for up to seven years.
In 2023, TNM traveled to Dharmasthala and reported on how the police manipulated evidence, tampered with medical reports, and derailed the case. Read the article here. Our video report of the case was removed from YouTube due to a court order. Watch the video on Facebook : The unsolved murder of a teen from Karnataka: Did police protect powerful suspects?
Editor’s Note: TNM has used Sowjanya’s name with written consent from her mother.
