MUMBAI — In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the probe into the suspected sexual assault and murder of a 13-year-old girl that occurred nearly 16 years ago.
Following a stern order from the Bombay High Court dated February 10, 2026, the federal agency registered a First Information Report (FIR) on March 26, 2026, to investigate the long-standing “cold case”.
The Tragic 2010 Incident
The case dates back to August 27, 2010, when the victim, a student of a Nalasopara-based school, was attending a Scout-Guide camp in the Tungareshwar Forest near Navghar. During a period of heavy rain, the victim was reportedly swept away by a forceful stream while playing in the water with her classmates.
Her body was discovered two hours later, approximately three kilometers downstream, lying on large stones within the forest premises. Crucially, the victim’s body was found entirely devoid of clothing, a fact that would become a central point of contention in subsequent investigations.
Years of Investigative Gridlock
For over a decade, the Manikpur Police and later a Special Investigation Team (SIT) from the State Crime Investigation Department (CID) maintained that the death was accidental. The state authorities relied heavily on a panel of doctors from Sir J.J. Group of Hospitals, who suggested the injuries were consistent with being washed away in a rocky stream.
However, the victim’s father, Rajesh Damaji Pawar, relentlessly challenged these findings. He highlighted grave discrepancies, including:
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- Post-Mortem Findings: The original team of three doctors who conducted the autopsy noted contusions in the perivaginal region, a lacerated hymen, and a dilated vaginal opening.
- Expert Opinion: These doctors formally opined that the victim had been subjected to sexual intercourse prior to her death.
- Evidence Flaws: It was later revealed that the J.J. Hospital panel based their “accidental death” opinion on a video recording of the autopsy that was incomplete because the photographer had left the room mid-procedure after feeling unwell.
High Court Rebukes State Authorities
A Division Bench comprising Justice Sarang V. Kotwal and Justice Sandesh D. Patil expressed deep dissatisfaction with the state’s handling of the matter.
The court observed that there were “too many loose ends” and that the state police had proceeded solely on the premise of accidental death while ignoring the “serious possibility” of rape and murder.
“The investigation should have proceeded in a direction taking into account a possibility that it could have been a serious offence… to secure ends of justice for the victim and her family, it is necessary that all these aspects are investigated thoroughly by an independent agency.”
Current Status of the Probe
The CBI’s Special Task Branch (STB) in Mumbai has now officially registered the case under Sections 302 (Murder), 201 (Destruction of Evidence), and 376 (Rape) of the Indian Penal Code. The investigation has been entrusted to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Jitender Singh.
The court has directed the CBI to conduct the investigation expeditiously, as the long passage of time since 2010 will make the collection of evidence significantly challenging.
