THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Not impressed by the release of Abhaya murder case convicts — Father Thomas Kottoor and Sister Sephy — on parole, the CBI has sought “details of the proceedings” regarding the decision from the prisons department.
Imprisoned for life, the two were among 1,500-odd prisoners released on a 90-day parole last week by the prisons department as part of its efforts to decongest prisons amid a virulent second wave of Covid. Though department sources maintained that the two were released on the basis of a Supreme Court verdict of 2020, the move drew criticism as they were in prison for just five months after being held guilty for the murder of a nun 28 years ago. However, the CBI — which probed the case — appeared least amused as they were not informed by the state government of the move.
“The state government might have interpreted the Supreme Court order on decongestion in its own manner. We are yet to get a copy of the order granting them parole or the details of the proceedings followed by the high-powered committee that took the decision. It was imperative that our response be sought before the decision was taken,” said a CBI source.
CBI sources pointed out the state government has not responded so far to the central agency’s request for the details. In other states, like Maharashtra, the bail pleas of murder accused were turned down by the courts though they were moved on the basis of the Supreme Court directive on prison decongestion, said a source.