As of December 14, 2023, the case surrounding the six-year-old girl from Vandiperiyar has no accused. While the judgment states that the child was brutally murdered, the question of who committed the crime remains unanswered. Despite the post-mortem revealing sexual assault and strangulation, justice for the child remains elusive, leaving the family in unending despair.

The only daughter they got after waiting 12 years was lost forever. Since that fateful day, their house has been devoid of laughter. How can they go on living when the person they believe to be the killer is walking free? Over the past year, the family has knocked on every door for a retrial and re-investigation. On the day the accused was acquitted, the mother broke down in tears outside the

Kattappana POCSO fast-track court. She still resides in Vandiperiyar, her grief untouched by time.

It was a murder—a horrific crime against her child. What words could ever console her pain?

Chargesheet filed within 78 days, but probe marred by lapses

The case initially earned widespread praise for the prompt actions of the police, who filed a charge sheet within 78 days. However, the court did not view their efforts in the same light. Instead, it highlighted a litany of investigative failures. On December 14, 2022, the court acquitted the accused, stating that there was insufficient scientific evidence to prove his guilt. However, the parents, the child’s brother and close friends still firmly believe the accused is the perpetrator.

When the court pointed out police negligence, legal experts also criticised the prosecution’s weak arguments. Meanwhile, the parents sit in their small estate quarters, drowned in tears.

Mother’s memories of the day

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The layams where the child's family and Arjun's family reside
The layams where the child's family and Arjun's family reside


"Between 11 am and 1 pm is the lunch break for estate workers. On that morning, I sent my son to fetch my daughter from her tuition class around 12.30 pm. The room where my brother-in-law and his family lived was just downstairs. She would usually go there to eat before coming home. That day, she had her meal, said goodbye to me, and returned to them. She waved and said, ‘Tata, Amma,’ as she went up the steps. That was the last time I saw her alive. The accused was right there beside her that day. But later, when the police questioned him, he denied seeing her."
The mother recalls every detail about the accused, the events and her daughter.

“We trusted him completely. He was like family. When the police took him into custody, we even cried for him, convinced that he couldn't have done such a thing. We even offered to vouch for him at the police station. The next day, when he was brought for evidence collection, we thought he would proclaim his innocence. But he didn’t. He demonstrated how he climbed out through the window—every detail with precision. When we heard this, even his father said, ‘We don’t want him anymore. Take him away.’ Then, the same man spent lakhs to get him released.”

While waiting for the appeal to proceed, the child’s father was attacked by a relative, leaving him bedridden for months. “They know that he’s the only one running around for the case. If anything happens to him, who else will pursue justice for my daughter?” says the mother.

From ‘accidental death’ to ‘murder’

On June 30, 2021, the six-year-old was found dead in an estate quarters, her body hanging with a shawl wrapped around her neck. Initially, it was believed she had accidentally strangled herself while playing. But a local doctor’s vigilance changed the course of the case. Dr Don Bosco was the first to suspect foul play and alerted the police.

“At first, the family questioned why a post-mortem was even necessary for what they believed to be an accidental death,” recalls a relative.
According to Dr Don Bosco, there were irregularities in the child’s death, which led him to alert law enforcement. Police sealed the crime scene the same day and conducted a post-mortem on July 1, 2021. The report confirmed sexual assault, shifting the investigation into a murder case.

The accused, a 21-year-old neighbour, Arjun, lived in the adjacent quarters and was reportedly a trusted family friend. The police claimed he confessed during interrogation, describing how he lured the girl with sweets, sexually assaulted her and strangled her to death when she became unconscious.
Investigation and trial

The police based their case on circumstantial evidence and a forensic report. The accused’s regular practice of buying sweets for the child, coupled with testimony from shopkeepers and relatives, formed part of the evidence. Also, the accused had denied seeing the child on the day of the incident, which raised suspicions.
The investigation team completed its charge sheet in 78 days, ensuring the accused did not qualify for default bail. However, during the trial, the prosecution faced significant challenges. Scientific evidence, including DNA analysis, lacked clarity. Moreover, the court questioned the plausibility of the accused’s escape through a closed window and highlighted inconsistencies in the police’s handling of evidence.

Despite concluding that the child’s death was indeed a homicide, the court acquitted the accused due to insufficient evidence to establish his guilt beyond reasonable doubt. This judgment brought intense criticism of the police, prosecution and judicial system.

Family’s fight for justice continues

The child’s parents continue to plead for a reinvestigation. While the government initially promised to file an appeal, progress has been slow. The family, burdened with grief and fighting systemic failures, has yet to see justice for their daughter.

For the parents, their loss remains immeasurable, and their fight for justice is far from over.