Ice cream case: HC dismisses State Govt plea

Kochi, Nov 16: The Kerala High Court today dismissed an appeal filed by the State Government and a revision petition filed by social activist K Ajitha, challenging the acquittal of all 16 accused in the infamous ice cream parlour sex racket case.

Dismissing both the pleas, Justice K Thankappan stated that it was not proper for this court to order re-trial in the case.

The pleas were filed against the order of the Principal Assistant Sessions Court, Kozhikode, dated January 12, 2006, acquitting all the 16 accused in the case on the ground that the prosecution had failed to establish any prima facie evidence against their involvement in the racket.

Among those acquitted by judge L R Sathyan were former Mayors T P Dasan and O Rajagopal.

The other accused were C Sreedevi, P P Abdulla, Edakkattu Khaderkutty, P A Abdulrahiman, M K Abdul Khader, Kalarikkal Basheer, James Joseph alias Joemon, K T Joseph alias Ouseppachan, Baby Joseph alias Queens Baby, Cheriyaarampath Muhammedkutty, A Aravindakshan, Baijunath Karippaly, P K Rafi and N Vijayan.

The case was initially filed by an NGO, Anweshi, of activist Ajitha, accusing top political leaders, lawyers and businessmen of allegedly exploiting minor girls in a prostitution racket.

The in-camera trial began on December 16, 2005, on the orders of the High Court.

However, all the five girls involved in the case told the judge they had neither accompanied the key suspects in the racket to any place nor did they have sex with any of the accused.

UNI