Palakkad: While POSCO special public prosecutor Latha Jayaraj said a decision on filing an appeal would be taken later, defence lawyer Ranjith Krishna said the lapses in the police investigation and political interference led to the acquittal of the accused.
"I know personally that there was high level political interference in the case," Mr Krishna told Deccan Chronicle. "The police was not given a free hand to investigate the case. That was why it failed to collect proper evidence."
The defence lawyer's comment gains significance due to the fact the investigation in the case suffered a series of setbacks and the then sub inspector of Walayar police station P.C. Chacko was suspended for the lapses. The station house officer at that time failed to detect a crime when the elder girl committed suicide.
The case was then investigated by Palakakd narcotic cell DySP M.J. Sojan.
All the accused were either relatives or close friends of the parents of the girls and were residing near their house.
There was also a controversy regarding Child Welfare Committee chairman in Palakkad N. Rajesh appearing as lawyer for an accused in the case. Mr Rajesh, a CPM nominee on CWC, quit as chairman. following the controversy.
