Arushi Killing: Nupur defends her husband, Rajesh Talwar

Saturday, May 24, 2008
Nupur defends husband, says he can't be killer

Noida: Nupur Talwar, the wife of dentist Rajesh Talwar, arrested yesterday for allegedly killing his daughter and domestic help, today claimed that he was totally innocent and she would fight his battle for justice.

She also denied there were any illicit relations between her husband and Anita Durrani, a dental surgeon, which the police said was one of the reasons for the twin murder.

"Even after all this, I can say it has nothing to do with this. There is no such thing," she told NDTV.

Coming out in strong defence of her husband, Nupur said, "with all conviction I can say it (Rajesh killing Arushi) can't be the way it is suggested (by the police). He was a doting father. It is doubly untrue.”

"In fact I used to feel that I had done something good in the past to be part of such a wonderful family. I have faith in the legal system and I have faith in God," she said.

Nupur, who is also a dentist, said she cannot believe that her husband could be behind the murders. "It is not possible, just not possible. The killer is out there somewhere. We will have to fight it out in the court. The truth is there. The truth has to come out."

Breaking her silence ever since the murder came to light Friday last week, Nupur said they were a very close knit family and on the night of the murder, the family had food and watched television together like any other family before they went to sleep.

"I have been in the house. Is such a thing possible? Do you think...Can any mother sleep throughout...I think it is beyond anybody's imagination. Utter nonsense, baseless nonsense. They (police) can say whatever they want. I know it is not true. God knows it is not true," she said.

Asked as a mother can she be part of a cover-up to save the husband from law, she said "would any mother do that? Then I don't think she is a mother. She is not a human being. She is an animal. Even a father would not do it."

To a question about the police charge of an extra-marital relationship between Rajesh and Anita Durrani, she said, the Durranis were like an extended family.

"I have known her since Arushi was born. Her daughter may be six months older than Arushi. Her daughter and my daughter were like sisters.”

"Whenever we have had medical problems, her husband (Praful) would come and give medicines for Arushi. Even when Rajesh gets asthmatic attacks, the first to be called would be Praful. In fact, we never had a family doctor. Praful was our doctor," she said.

On domestic servant Hemraj, who the police claimed had developed a relationship with Arushi, Nupur said he was a person whom she had trusted. "He was 45 years, turning grey, an elderly person, who had sons and a grandchild. I never had any problems with him. Even on the day of murder, he had told me how happy he was that Arushi had eaten for the first time 'palak paneer' (spinach and cheese).

"He had cared for her," she said and denied suggestions of an intimate relationship between Hemraj and Arushi.

"It is not at all true. We knew everything about Arushi, she also went through what teenagers normally go through," she said.

Nupur said Rajesh never uttered a word to Arushi and whatever he wanted to say, he always conveyed it through her.

"It (Arushi's murder by him) is not possible. I know Rajesh. He had a lot of patience. He was one of the most gentle souls. It is unimaginable. I hope the person (murderer) would be caught," she said.

Asked about who could be the killer, she said she had no idea. "First when the murder came to light, first I thought that it was the servant. But when his body was recovered, then I thought probably it was some enmity the servant had with someone."

Recalling the night before Arushi was murdered, Nupur said Rajesh had bought a camera for the girl's 14th birthday (which incidentally is today) and both of them took it to her room. She wanted to give it to Arushi on the same day, but Rajesh wanted to wait till birthday.

Nupur said Arushi kept calling her friends to know who all are coming for her birthday party.
"I will not just sit back and see. I will fight for justice and for my family's name," she said.

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