The CBI has announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh to anyone who shares credible information leading to the arrest of those involved in the rape-and-murder of a teenage girl in Kotkhai in Himachal Pradesh in July.

The Himachal Pradesh Police had arrested six suspects in the case, one of whom died in its custody.

The rest five were not under the agency’s suspicion after their lie-detector tests apparently showed that they were not lying about their non-involvement in the case, sources claimed.

The sources, however, said no clean chit has been given to anyone till the agency gets conclusive evidence.

The CBI registered two cases on the direction of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in July this year to probe the rape-and-murder of the 16-year-old girl and the second related to the custodial death of an accused, Suraj Singh, arrested by the Himachal Pradesh Police.

The CBI spokesperson said the reward of Rs 10 lakh will be given to anyone from general public for providing credible information resulting in the arrest of real culprits in the case.

“The information can be given to the CBI over mobile numbers +919650394782 (Deputy SP, SC-I, CBI); 8219885920, 8219893590 (local numbers of Himachal Pradesh office); Landline numbers 011-24368637, 24368640 (SP, SC-I, CBI, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-), Mobile –9870530011 and email spscu2del@cbi.gov.in. The name and details of the informant will be kept secret,” CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said.

A special investigation team (SIT) of the Himachal Pradesh Police had arrested Ashish Chauhan alias Ashu (29), a resident of Sharaal village in Mahasu area of Kotkhai; Rajender Singh alias Raju (32), a driver; Subash Singh Bisht (42) and Deepak alias Deepu (29), both residents of Pauri Garwal; Suraj Singh (29) and Lok Jung alias Chotu (19), both hailing from Nepal.

Suraj Singh had died under mysterious circumstances while in custody.

On August 29, the CBI arrested then Inspector General of Police (IGP) Z H Zaidi, who was heading the SIT, then Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of Theog Manoj Joshi, the then Station House Officer of Kotkhai, one Assistant Sub-Inspector, three head constables and one constable in the custodial death case.

On November 16, the agency arrested then Superintendent of Police (SP) of Shimla D W Negi.

The Class X student had gone missing on July 4 and her naked body was recovered from Haliala forests in Kotkhai on July 6.

The rape case created outrage in the state which went to the assembly polls last month.