Jammu/Hyderabad, January 5
The former Miss Jammu, Anara Gupta, sex scandal case, pending in the High Court, took a new turn when the Forensic Science Laboratory in Hyderabad, in its report, said the CD sent by the Jammu and Kashmir police “did not” contain the pictures of the former Miss Jammu.

Anara Gupta’s lawyer had filed a petition in the Jammu High Court that the picture in the pornographic film was not that of Anara and it should be confirmed from the forensic laboratory.

He had also, in his petition, claimed damages to the tune of Rs 1 crore from the police for maligning the name of Anara Gupta.

Soon after the report reached Anara Gupta’s family that the forensic laboratory had given a clean chit to Anara, the mood at former Miss Jammu’s house was upbeat.

Her mother and three brothers had been facing problems since October 24, 2004 when Anara, her mother Raj Rani and three brothers were arrested. In November all, except Anara Gupta, were released.

Anara was then sent to one week’s police custody on the direction of the Tehsildar Jammu after the former Miss Jammu was held under immoral traffic Act.

The CD was sent to the APFL by the police on December 31, last year.

Anara moved the Supreme Court on January 3 seeking stay on the Jammu and Kashmir High Court order refusing her permission to visit Delhi.

A special leave petition was filed in the apex court on her behalf seeking stay of the High Court order. The High Court had stayed a local court order allowing Anara to visit Delhi.

Anara had sought permission to approach the NHRC and the NCW against alleged police torture and illegal confinement.

Following the High Court order, Anara’s mother visited Delhi earlier and petitioned the NHRC and the NCW alleging police torture and appealing for the case to be transferred to the CBI.

On the other hand, the mother of Anara, was jubilant. She said: “We have been vindicated and nobody believed our story.” Anara’s brother said: “I am happy and we will continue to abide by law.”

Anara Gupta refused to interact with mediapersons as she had been restrained from doing so when the Chief Judicial Magistrate had released her on conditional bail on November 9, 2004.

The police, too, had to face awkward moments when the Division Bench of the High Court, comprising Chief Justice S.N. Jha and another Judge S.K. Gupta, was not satisfied with the investigations.

The case was finally transferred to the Crime Branch of the police. The Inspector General (Crimes) then constituted a special team for further investigations.