62. In a case based on circumstantial evidence, the evidence of Investigating Officer/s is of utmost importance. The Investigating Officer, Vikas Sarjerao Lokre (PW-16) stated in his evidence as below: Examination in Chief of PW-16 “….Then we called the dog squad to take the search of the victim girl. We have taken the efforts but said girl was not traced out. Accordingly I have submitted the report. Now shown to me. It bears my signature as well as signature of the authority of Dog Squad. Contents are true and correct. It is at Exh.70. Then I have circulated the photograph of the victim girl to the various police stations for her search. Now that letter shown to me. It bears my signature. Contents are true and correct. It is at Exh.71. I have also forwarded the wireless message inter-state along with the detail description of the victim girl. Now that wireless message shown to me. It bears signature of Sr. PI Dharmadhakari. I know his signature. Contents are true and correct. It is at Exh.72. Then, I have recorded the statements of those witnesses who had lastly seen that girl. I have also recorded the statement of the mother of victim girl. Then on 02.10.2013 when our police squad was taking the search of that girl we had found dead body of one small girl in the muddy pond near about 2.00 p.m. Then we called the person from Fire Brigade and removed that dead body out of the pond. I called two panch witnesses and prepared panchanama of that spot in their presence. That panchanama is at Exh.38. Now shown to me. It bears my signature, signatures of two panch 52 Criminal Appeal No(s). 1954-1955 of 2022