Kerala HC rejects Govt plea for re-trial in ice cream parlour case

Kochi, Nov 16 (UNI) The Kerala High Court today dismissed an appeal by the State Government for a re-trial in the infamous ice cream parlour sex racket case and upheld the trial court order, acquitting all 16 accused in the case.

Dimissing the Government appeal and a revision petition filed by social activist K Ajitha, Mr Justice K Thankappan said the Principal Assistant Sessions Court, Kozhikode, could not be faulted for concluding in its order of January 12, 2006, that the prosecution had failed to present any evidence to prove the involvement of the accused in the sex 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.

Upholding the trial court order, the High Court observed that ''this court is of the view that the trial court cannot be found fault with in coming to the conclusion that the prosecution had not succeeded in proving the case aganist any of the accused as there were no proven facts, circumstances or evidence which warranted interference of the trial court at any stage of the trial.'' UNI