Kerala HC pulls up CBI in Sister Abhaya case

Kochi, Nov 24: The Kerala High Court today pulled up the CBI for not complying with the legal formalities while filing the remand report of the three accused in the Sister Abhaya murder case.

Hearing the petitions filed by the accused priests Thomas Kottoor and Jose Poothurukkayil and nun Sister Sephi, challenging the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate's order remanding them in 14 days' CBI custody, Justice R Basanth said going through the order of the CJM court, it appeared that the CBI did not produce extracts of the case diary along with the remand report.

In an oral observation during the hearing, the judge said the investigating agency should have applied its mind before submitting the remand report.

Noting that effective investigation in the case was prompted by the judiciary, the judge added that the right of the accused should be protected.

Contesting the accused persons' appeal, the CBI said the investigation so far revealed that all three accused were involved in the murder of the 21-year-old nun, whose body was found in a well of St Pius Tenth convent in Kottayam on March 27, 1992.

Submitting that oral evidence corroborated circumstantial evidence, the CBI said there was sufficient evidence scientifically and orally to connect the accused to the crime.

The court directed the CBI to give its explanation regarding the queries raised on the legal formalities in the remand report and adjourned the case for further hearing.

UNI