At the Heart of the Info - Kistnen Case: The Truth Under the Test of the Reopening of the Investigation
The investigation into the death of Soopramanien Kistnen, five years later, will be reopened next month. This decision is ‘expected’ by the family of the former activist and the public.
Five years after the discovery of Soopramanien Kistnen's body in a sugarcane field in Telfair, the show ‘At the Heart of the Info’ on Monday, October 13, was dedicated to a significant development: the announcement of the reopening of the investigation next month, accompanied by a project for legislative amendments aimed at allowing foreign investigators to intervene in sensitive cases. On the set, Patrick Hilbert brought together Roshan Kokil, a former police superintendent, Ranjit Jokhoo, a former police inspector, along with lawyers Sanjeev Teeluckdharry and Neelkanth Dulloo.
From the outset, the guests welcomed a decision that was ‘expected’ by the family and the public, while reminding that a homicide case is never legally ‘closed’. According to them, the investigation can and should resume if new elements or past oversights warrant it. Former inspector Ranjit Jokhoo emphasized the importance of an external viewpoint, whether from the UK or elsewhere, to strengthen the investigative chain. Roshan Kokil shared a similar caution, advocating for international technical cooperation but insisted that operational leadership remain Mauritian ‘to preserve institutional ownership and the credibility of the process.’
The debate quickly shifted to the shortcomings observed during the initial phase of the investigation, particularly regarding the preservation of the crime scene, collection and traceability of evidence, use of Safe City footage, and coordination between autopsy, toxicology, and the investigation. Several speakers pointed out that a semantic shift had occurred very early, moving from ‘suspected homicide’ to ‘suicide’ or ‘no foul play’, even before all forensic pieces were consolidated.
On the technical side, the guests identified three levers. First, re-evaluating the already submitted evidence – DNA, fibers, traces, residues, electronic devices, and associated data – with recent digital analysis potentially uncovering new leads previously deemed closed. Secondly, a structured re-interrogation of witnesses, utilizing an inconsistencies grid and cross-checking between departments, should help reduce contradictions. Lastly, the governance of the investigation: establishing a dedicated team, assigning specific tasks, conducting weekly progress reviews, and clear communication in the face of administrative or legal hurdles.
For Neelkanth Dulloo, the stakes go beyond the simple case: it is about reaffirming the capacity of institutions to uphold judicial truth. Sanjeev Teeluckdharry emphasized that it is now imperative to take action. “If the findings are established, action must be initiated, particularly regarding the homicide itself and, if necessary, related aspects,” he said.
Foreign expertise is not seen in the same light by everyone. Roshan Kokil warned against an ‘outsourcing’ of the investigation: the external contribution should remain focused – forensic, imaging, data exploitation, chain of custody – and transferable to sustainably enhance local skills. Ranjit Jokhoo reminded that Mauritian police are already trained abroad and that knowledge exchange is not new; the difference now lies in the direct involvement of specialists in investigative acts. “This requires a precise legal framework and rigorous management of conflicts of interest,” he stressed.
The show also emphasized the importance of a rigorous methodology. Restarting an investigation five years later involves dealing with certain limitations: traces may have disappeared, witnesses may be abroad or deceased, and memories may have faded. Hence the necessity for a precise operations plan, measurable objectives, inter-agency management (judicial police, FSL, IT forensics, DPP), and clear and responsible communication with the public and family.
To conclude, the guests placed the Kistnen case in a broader context, insisting on the dignity of victims, the rights of the defense, the independence of investigations, and the trust between citizens and institutions. The announced reopening imposes an obligation for procedural results: not to condemn at all costs, but to conduct a complete, rigorous, and comprehensible investigation. “Truth must not be an option, but a requirement for justice to regain its full credibility,” declared lawyer Neelkanth Dulloo.