KOCHI: Trial in the Varapuzha sex scam case will begin at the Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court on October 3, nearly five years after the case was registered.
Shobha John, the kingpin of the sex racket, is the first accused in the case. In 2011, the Crime Branch had registered 32 cases in connection with the sex scandal, and initiated a probe. Trial in the first five cases will commence on October 3 at the Additional Sessions Court. The other accused in the cases are Anil Kumar of Thiruvuananthapuram; Pushpavathy of Kasargod; Vinod Kumar of Cherupuzha in Kannur; Shine Thomas of Bengaluru; Arun alias Denis of Menangady in Wayanad; Sunil Joy of Kalamassery; Muhammad Basheer of Kasargod; Tahira of Mancherry; Scaria of Pathanamthitta; Shijil of Pathanmthitta; Madurai-native Ashok and Goutham of Madurai.
After completing the initial procedures, the court will examine the victim as the first witness in the case. The victim was taken to several places in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil in 2011, and was sexually abused by several persons. It was Sobha John who allegedly handed over the victim to ‘customers.’ A Sureshan, who appeared for the government in the Soumya murder case, will be the Special Prosecutor in the Varappuzha sex case.
New Prosecutor in Paravoor sex case
Meanwhile, the government has appointed a new Special Prosecutor in the Paravoor sex scam. Sreelal Warrier will appear for the government, after C P Mohan Menon resigned last year. The trial in the case will be held at the Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court, which has disposed of 11 cases and convicted the father and mother of the victim.