The victim in Suryanelli rape case approached the High Court on Tuesday seeking to implead herself in a petition to conduct further investigation against Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien in the case.
In the petition, she submitted that there exist enough reasons to allow the petition for further investigation against Kurien.
“If I am not heard in this case, the cause of justice will be sabotaged. Hence, it is very essential to implead me as an additional respondent in the petition by the Kerala Mahila Sangham. If the impleading petition is not allowed, I will be put to irreparable hardships,” she submitted.
A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice K Vinod Chandran, is considering the petition filed by Kerala Mahila Sangham state committee secretary Kamala Sadanandan.
The petitioner also sought a directive to produce the records of the investigation conducted by Siby Mathews, former investigating officer, on Kurien’s role in the case.
“Inquiry report in favour of Kurien should not be taken into consideration as it was not based on an FIR, nor was it according to the terms of the Code of Criminal Procedure,” it said.
“Kurien is using his political clout to sabotage the possibility of any further investigation against him,” the Sangham alleged.
Meanwhile, a Division Bench, comprising Justice K T Shankaran and Justice M L Joseph Francis, allowed a petition filed by Jacob Stephen, an accused in the Suryanelli case, seeking permission to attend the 16th Co-Operative Congress in New Delhi from June 21 to 29. The Bench allowed the accused to attend the congress.