Kerala - Kochi

CDs in Abhaya case not tampered with, says CBI

Kochi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has informed the Kerala High Court that the compact discs on the narco-analysis test process on the suspects in the Sister Abhaya case had not been tampered with while in its custody.

The submission was made before Justice V. Ramkumar when the case came up for hearing.

To the queries of the court, R.K. Agarwal, investigation officer and Deputy Superintendent of Police, CBI, said that in the light of the facts revealed during the tests, Thomas Kottoor and Jose Poothrukayil, priests, were thoroughly interrogated.

They had denied any role in the unnatural death of Abhaya. They were subject to polygraph test at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, New Delhi. But no new facts had emerged.

The CBI said the investigation team was making sincere efforts to verify or corroborate the facts revealed during the tests on Father Kottoor, Father Poothrukayil and Sister Sephy to unravel the mystery surrounding the death. No stone would be left unturned to bring the culprits to book.

The final report would be filed before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Ernakulam, as soon as the investigation was completed.

Mr. Agarwal said the magistrate court’s permission was obtained before subjecting the suspects to the tests. Brain-mapping test was conducted on the three suspects. The questions they were asked had been prepared in advance by the investigation officer. The persons who put questions to women suspects could understand Malayalam. All the suspects were examined with the assistance of Krishna Veni, assistant at the Forensic Science Laboratory, Bangalore.

The compact discs contained full details forwarded by the laboratory.

CBI counsel M.V.S. Namboothiri submitted that the observation of the court that the CDs were suspected to have been tampered with be expunged.

Justice K. Hema dismissed a bail petition filed by Santhosh Madhavan in a rape case. Dismissing the petition, the judge directed the magistrate court to take all steps as expeditiously as possible to commit the case to the sessions court. The sessions court was directed to speedily dispose of the case without delay. Rejecting the petition, the court said that if the accused remained in jail till the trial was completed, the right of the victim could be protected. The court had a duty to ensure fair trial even at the cost of the liberty of the accused. The Director-General of Prosecution submitted that if Santosh Madhavan was released on bail, he would threaten the victim and witnesses.

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