Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Abhaya case: non-bailable arrest warrants issued

Staff Reporter

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Judicial Magistrate S. Soman issued non-bailable arrest warrants on Monday against State Chief Chemical Examiner (CCE) R. Geetha and her colleague M. Chitra on the charge of tampering with the chemical analysis report in the Sister Abhaya unnatural death case.

The CCE's laboratory chemically analysed the organ samples collected from Abhaya's body in 1992 as part of the forensic investigation into the cause of her death. (The body of the nun was found in a well in the compound of a convent in Kottayam district).

The crucial forensic tests were conducted in April 1992 under the supervision of Geetha, who was then head of the Toxicology Department and Joint Chemical Examiner. Chitra, who was at the time a chemical analyst, assisted R. Geetha.

This month, Jomon Puthenpurackal, human rights activists, petitioned the CJM alleging that the chemical examination result entries (related to the case) in the original work register had been tampered with.

He alleged that tampering was done to cover up the fact that Abhaya had been raped and murdered. Similar views were also reflected by a section of the media.

The police seized the original work register on the orders of the CJM.

The court sent the register to the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory (CFSL) in Hyderabad to find if there was any truth in the allegations.

Later, on the basis of the CFSL findings, the CJM ordered that the two officials be booked on charges of conspiracy, forgery and tampering under sections 120 (b), 465 and 466 of the Indian Penal Code.

Earlier, the CCE had sent a report to the Home Ministry stating that the final chemical analysis report had not been corrected. In the report, she stated that it was common practice at the laboratory to enter preliminary findings in the register. Such entries were corrected, if necessary, when the entire chemical analysis procedure was completed.

CBI submits report

Special Correspondent writes from Kochi: The CBI on Monday filed in a sealed cover an interim report on the progress of further investigation into the death of Sister Abhaya before Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate P.D. Sarangadharan.

The court had issued the direction when a petition filed by M. Thomas, father of Sister Abhaya, complaining about the lack of progress in the further investigation into the case came up.

The case was adjourned to June 4.

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