A man spent nearly two-and-a-half years in jail in connection with a woman's alleged murder.
But seven years after she went missing, an unexpected development in Karnataka's Mandya district has turned the case on its head.
The discovery has raised serious questions about the original police investigation and the evidence used to build the case.
How did a missing-person case take such a turn, and what does this mean for the man who was accused?
What Happened Earlier?
Manju, a resident of Pandavapura in Karnataka's Mandya district, went missing in June 2019. Her father, Nagaraju, filed a missing-person complaint.
Police reportedly found that her last call before disappearing was made using a phone belonging to Rajesh, a construction worker she had met at a bus stand. Manju had borrowed his phone to call someone, and the two reportedly did not know each other.
In August 2021, Nagaraju filed a murder complaint against Rajesh after two people allegedly claimed he had confessed to killing Manju and dumping her body in the Cauvery River.
Police registered a murder case under Section 302 of the IPC and arrested Rajesh. Investigators alleged he killed Manju because he wanted to marry another woman and believed she would come in his way.
Rajesh was sent to judicial custody and spent nearly two-and-a-half years in prison before securing bail in early 2024.
How Did The Woman Turn Up Alive?
In November 2026 when Rajesh's advocate, Natesh, reportedly received information about Manju's whereabouts. With help from local residents, they traced her to Nagamangala Taluk, where police located her on 11 November.
During questioning, Manju reportedly said she had left home voluntarily because her family was pressuring her to marry against her wishes. She had eloped with Nagendra, married him, and initially lived in Tamil Nadu before settling in Nagamangala.
She also said she did not know Rajesh and had only borrowed his phone to make a call.
What Has Rajesh Alleged?
The discovery brought Rajesh's allegations against the original investigating team under scrutiny.
Rajesh has claimed that police tortured him in custody and forced him to confess to a murder he had not committed.
He alleged that officers assaulted him, administered electric shocks and threatened to implicate members of his family if he did not admit to the crime.
Further he claimed that he eventually confessed out of fear of continued torture and the possibility of his family members being arrested.
The case was originally investigated by the then Pandavapura police inspector, Prabhakar, who has since retired.
What Action Has The Police Taken?
Following Manju's discovery, Mandya Superintendent of Police V J Shobharani ordered a fresh inquiry into the original investigation.
The matter has been handed over to the Deputy Superintendent of Police in Srirangapatna. The officer will examine the evidence collected in 2021, the circumstances surrounding Rajesh's arrest, and the alleged forced confession.
The police have also said that further action against the original investigating officer will depend on the findings of the inquiry.
However, the fresh inquiry is still underway, and no final findings on the responsibility of individual officers have been announced.
What Happens When An Investigation Goes Wrong?
When Rajesh was arrested in 2021, the IPC and CrPC were in force. The BNS and BNSS replaced them on 1 July 2024.
India has no general law guaranteeing compensation for wrongful prosecution. However, courts may award compensation in appropriate cases involving violations of fundamental rights under Article 21. The BNSS also provides limited compensation for groundless arrests.
But when an investigation puts someone's freedom at stake, who ensures that the mistakes are identified and those responsible are held accountable?
TL;DR | News At A Glance
Who is the woman?
Manju, a resident of Pandavapura in Karnataka's Mandya district, who went missing in June 2019.
Why was Rajesh arrested?
Police accused him of murdering Manju after her last phone call was traced to his mobile phone and two people allegedly claimed he had confessed to the crime.
How long was he in prison?
Rajesh spent nearly two-and-a-half years in judicial custody before securing bail in early 2024.
How was Manju found?
She was traced to Nagamangala in November 2026 after Rajesh's advocate received information about her whereabouts.
Why had she disappeared?
Manju reportedly told police that she had left home to escape a marriage against her wishes, later married another man and settled down.
What has happened now?
Mandya police have ordered a fresh inquiry into the original investigation and the allegations of custodial torture.
What does the law say?
Indian courts can award compensation in appropriate cases involving violations of fundamental rights, but India has no comprehensive statutory compensation scheme for wrongful prosecution.
