Observing that “the threat of ‘Suryanelli’ has been haunting Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien for years”, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday held that there was no new material warranting fresh action against him in the case.
The court observed that the trauma undergone by the victim was understandable and the court understood the need to be sensitive, sympathetic and considerate to such a victim. “But at the same time, one cannot also omit to note that the threat of ‘Suryanelli’ has been haunting Kurien for years. His role was investigated by several senior officials and he was also proceeded against on a complaint by the victim. As far as he is concerned, by the acquittal in 2007, he might have hoped that the matter be given a quietus,” it observed.
Justice P Bhavadasan made the observation while dismissing a petition by the victim in the Suryanelli sex case seeking a fresh probe against the Kurien based on the latest revelation by an accused in the case.
The Sessions Court had dismissed the plea of the victim stating that no new material had been brought before it to present a different view from the earlier proceedings.
The HC upheld the order of the Sessions Court. Appearing for the state, Senior Government Pleader C Rasheed submitted that there was absolutely no merit in the contention raised by the victim. She had moved the JFCM Court, Peermade, against Kurien based on the utterance of Dharmarajan, sole convict in the case, who had claimed on a channel interview a few months back that he had taken Kurien in a car to a guest house at Kumily where the girl was lodged.
Dharmarajan had later retracted the claim in the Magistrate court stating he had never met Kurien and he was inebriated when he made the charge through the media.