Sister Abhaya death case: Kerala High Court no to dishcarge plea by accused

KOCHI: The High Court on Tuesday has rejected the discharge petitions filed by Fr. Thomas Kottoor and Sr. Sephy, the two accused in the Sr. Abhaya murder case. Rejecting the petitions filed by the two the court has also observed that there was no need to grant a stay to the proceedings in the trial court. The High Court has issued the order while the trial in the case is set to begin in the court after a wait of nearly 26 years. The CBI court in Thiruvananthapuram had earlier rejected the discharge petition filed by the two and they came to High Court against the CBI court verdict.

The CBI has arrested Fr. Kottoor, Sr. Sephy and Fr. Jose Puthrukkayil in November 2008 based on circumstantial evidences and polygraph tests. The three were remanded for nearly 45 days before High Court granted them bail. Fr. Puthrukkayil has been discharged from the list of the accused by the CBI court few weeks ago.