Glaring loopholes emerging in the investigation of the murder of Mandvi Singh, a scientist at the Chandra Shekhar Azad (CSA) University of Agriculture and Technology, has left the Kanpur police red faced.

The joint team of Nawabganj police, Special Operation Group (SOG) and Special Task Force (STF) arrested four persons — Jitendra Rathod, Mohsin, Sonu Valmiki and Santosh Awasthi — on September 16 in connection with the murder. Singh was murdered on September 14.

The details provided by the police on prime accused Jitendra is being debated by his family. The official press note issued by the police department stated: Jitendra belongs to Allahabad and had come to Kanpur a year ago in search of work. His parents had died and he was the lone surviving member of the family. The assailant had thick moustache and long hair.

Rejecting the allegations levelled against Jitendra, his uncle, Babaji, provided his account of facts: Jitendra is a resident of Kanpur and has no connection with Allahabad. Somwati Sahu, the mother of Jitendra is still alive, and for the past 13 years she has been working as a daily wager in the Oil Seed Farm of the CSA University of Agriculture and Technology. The family rubbishes police claims that 18-year-old Jitendra had thick moustache.

“He was born and brought up in this area and none of the family members have any connection with Allahabad. My nephew is being framed in the case. None of my family members have been named in any criminal case, and the arrest of Jitendra has come as a shock to all of us,” Babaji said.

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