KOTTAYAM: The remaining two accused, who were found guilty by the Kerala High Court in the sensational Suryanelli case, surrendered before the Special Court, here, on Thursday. Seventh accused Jose Nedumthakidi, hailing from Kozhuvanal, and 10th accused and Congress leader Jacob Stephen surrendered before the court following the Supreme Court dismissing their plea seeking to exempt from surrendering.
While rejecting their plea on July 15, Supreme Court had given six weeks time to surrender, which will end this week.
Earlier, Special Trial Court, here, had ordered the remaining accused to surrender before July 19. Special Court judge S Shajahan had also instructed to confiscate the properties owned by the accused if they fail to surrender within the specified time. Earlier, 21 persons had surrendered.
The girl, who was only 16 years old at the time of the incident, was subjected to sexual abuse and was gangraped by several persons inside and outside the state on various days from January 16, 1996 to February 26, 1996. She was sexually abused by 41 people during 40 days.
On April 4, the Kerala High Court had upheld the life imprisonment awarded by a Sessions Court to Dharmarajan, the prime accused in the case, while modifying the sentence of 23 others.