India, Feb. 1 -- Reacting sharply to the acquittal of co-accused Diya Padalkar, Jhanvi's mother Nidhi Kukreja said the family would challenge her acquittal before the Bombay High Court.

"I have faith in the judiciary. I have attended court for the last six years and I will challenge the acquittal. The court has obliged us by acknowledging the presence of Diya Padalkar at the crime scene at the time of the crime," Kukreja said in a statement issued after the Sessions Court pronounced its verdict on Saturday.

Her counsel, advocate Trivankumar Karnani, pointed to specific observations recorded by the Sessions Court. "In the course of dictation of the judgment in open court, the court has recorded the presence of accused No 2, Diya Padalkar...