The CBI on Tuesday opposed a plea by Nupur and Rajesh Talwar in the Supreme Court seeking transfer of the Aarushi murder case trial from Ghaziabad to Delhi.

Additional Solicitor General Haren Raval, appearing for the agency, submitted before a bench headed by Justice B. S. Chauhan, that there were “some hidden motives” behind the plea. He hinted that the petition for transfer of the case might have been filed as Section 438 of the Criminal Procedure Code, relating to anticipatory bail, is not applicable in Uttar Pradesh.

The bench, after hearing his arguments, asked him to file the CBI’s response by Thursday and listed the matter for further hearing on February 27.

The court had on February 3 sought the CBI’s response on the Talwar couple’s plea to transfer the trial relating to the murders of their daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj from Ghaziabad to Delhi.