The Kerala police team investigating the Geevarghese ragging case will file the case chargesheet this month.
In the first of its kind, the investigation team has sought a sealed letter from the Kerala High Court confirming that the case has legal validity and the accused could be prosecuted in Kerala. According to police officials, the investigation of the case was over and only some document works were pending.
“We are trying to file the case before the end of this month. The chargesheet against six accused would be filed before the Kolenchery Judicial First Class Magistrate. The accused, Akhil Babu of Oachira, Kiran Nair of Parassala, Tom John of Pathanamthitta, Tintu Abraham, 21, of Uzhavoor, and Abin Sabu, 22, and Justin, 22, are out in bail. Four more unidentifed persons are to be traced. Since a petition regarding this case is under consideration of the Chennai High Court, an affidavit would be filed there,” Ammose Mamman, Assistant Commissioner and investigation officer, said.
Mamman said as the Malayali students, Geevarghese John and Arun Raj, were ragged by the six accused in a Kerala-bound train near Erode and the first FIR was registered there, they would seek a letter from the Kerala High Court that the FIR registered in Kerala was valid and accused could be prosecuted here.
“This would be the first of its kind when a letter from the High Court would be used in a case. There is a possibility of the defence counsel challenging the validity of case as the first FIR was registered at Erode railway station. For countering such challenges, the letter from the High Court would be sought. We would receive the letter once the High Court opens next week. The Kerala High Court had earlier dismissed a petition filed by an accused challenging the validity of the FIR,” he said.
The incident occurred on January 13 when Geevarghese and Arun, fourth semester students of Salem Jnanamani Engineering College, were brutally attacked by their seniors.
The gang had demanded money, ATM cards and contact numbers of the victims’ female classmates.
Upon objecting to the demands, the gang attacked the duo using iron rods and shoved them out of the moving train near the Erode railway station.