Esther Anuhya case: Accused's mother, friend are main witnesses

The mother and childhood friend of Chandrabhan Sanap the prime accused in Hyderabad techie Esther Anuhyarsquos murder case have been named as main witnesses by Mumbai policersquos crime branch Unit 7 in its charge sheet Sanaprsquos sister Sunita Avhad is also one of the witnesses in the case Sanap allegedly killed Esther near Kanjurmarg on January 5 this yearAlso read Shocking revelation Mother of Esther Anuhyas alleged killer speaks outThe slain Esther AnuhyaA crime branch officer said ldquoThe friend is the prime witness as Sanap had taken him to the crime scene after the murder After that the duo went to Sanaprsquos motherrsquos Kanjurmarg residence where the friend informed her about the murderrdquoAlso read Esther Anuhya murder case Parking attendants at LTT identify accusedHowever crime branch officials alleged that they are not relying too much on Sanaprsquos mother sister and friend as they might retract their statements at the last minute To ensure that Sanap doesnrsquot go scotfree cops have included solid evidence in the 15002000 pagelong charge sheet which will be filed at the Esplanade court on May 25Senior Police Inspector Venkat Patil from Crime Branch Unit 7 who is the investigating officer said ldquoWe will appeal for death sentence of the accused under sections 376 A rape 302 murder and 397 robbery or dacoity with attempt to cause death under the Indian Penal Code IPC We have made a watertight case by recording the statements of 13 witnessesrdquoAlso read Esther Anuhya murder 150 cops search 18km stretch for laptopThe witnesses include all those people who had seen Sanap and Esther including a parking lot attendant a cold drink seller and few autorickshawtaxi drivers stationed at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus LTT station A teastall owner near Kanjurmarg the Nasikbased astrologer whom Sanap had showed his birth chart and the beggar who got Estherrsquos bag from Sanap have also been named in the charge sheet Cops have also mentioned about the bag which was recovered from the beggar Estherrsquos clothes which were found in her sisterrsquos shop and her glasses Another officer on condition of anonymity said ldquoDespite searching for a week we couldnrsquot recover Estherrsquos laptop which Sanap had allegedly thrown into the Kadavli River at Titwala The laptop would have been a catalyst in the caserdquoThe events according to the charge sheetOn January 5 Esther returned to Mumbai from a vacation in Hyderabad at LTT station Sanap posed as a taxidriver and after sharing his telephone number he convinced her that he would drop her safely at her Andheri hostel To ensure that Sanap didnrsquot take undue advantage of her Esther pretended to call someone and gave his detailsAlso read Esther Anuhyas killer had intended only to rob her bag laptopWhen Esther saw Sanaprsquos bike she was firm that she wouldnrsquot travel with him But again Sanap convinced her that instead of spending money on a taxi she could give him the money ldquoThe accused kept her bag on the tank of his bike Esther got scared that he would flee with her bag and jumped onto the bikerdquo said an officerSanaprsquos intention changed midwaySanap revealed that he wanted to steal Estherrsquos bag But she jumped onto his bike and sat behind him In the process when she had physical contact with him his intention changed and he decided to rape her An officer said ldquoHe decided to rob her near Eastern Express Highway But his intentions changed and decided to sexually abuse her near Kanjurmarg and then flee with her bagrdquoAfter reaching Kanjurmarg the accused started threatening her and tried to force himself on her ldquoSanap claimed that he didnrsquot rape Esther But medical reports showed that she had internal injuries on her private partsrdquo added the officer