Common thread seen among three India murder cases

New Delhi: What do the murder of teenaged Aarushi in Noida, grisly killings of 18 children and a woman in Nithari, and the mysterious death of Muslim computer graphics designer Rizwanur Rahman in Kolkata have in common?

In all three high-profile crime cases, the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) probe was led by joint director (Special Crime) Arun Kumar.

All three cases were transferred to the central agency after the police of the respective states drew flak for their initial handling of the investigations.

Clean chit

Incidentally, in the first two cases, men initially held as the main suspects have been eventually given a clean chit by the premier investigating agency.

Remains of 18 children and a woman were found December 27, 2007, from a drain adjoining businessman Moninder Singh Pandher's house in Nithari village in Noida.

The police arrested Pandher and his servant Surender Koli on charges of rape and murder of some children and at least one woman.

Of the 18 cases of murder and kidnapping, the CBI has so far let off Pandher in 12, while Koli has been charged for the crimes.

"Pandher was not at all aware of the killings by Koli and he has not committed any murder," Arun Kumar said March 22, 2007.

Rizwanur Rahman, 30 years old graphic designer, was found lying dead near a railway line in Kolkata Sep 21, 2007. Barely weeks earlier, Rehman had married a HIndu woman, daughter of one of the leading industrialists of Kolkata.

His family alleged that he was under pressure from his in-laws for separation from his wife and claimed he was possibly bumped off after he refused to annul his marriage with the Hindu woman.

The CBI probe, again headed by joint director Arun Kumar, concluded the high profile industrialist was not involved in Rehman's death, and that he committed suicide.