Two priests, sister held in Abhaya murder case

KOCHI: Sixteen years after she was found dead under mysterious circumstances, the CBI today arrested two priests and a sister in the state in connection with the murder of Sister Abhaya.

A CBI spokesman said Father Thomas Kottor, Father Jose Puthrikayil and Sister Seffy were arrested by the agency’s Special Crime unit.

This is the first arrest in the case that shocked Kerala after the 21-year-old sister was found dead in a well in St Pius convent in Kottayam on 27 March, 1992.

Sister Abhaya, daughter of M Thomas hailing from Areekara, was a second year pre-degree student in BCM College at Kottayam in 1992. The college belonged to the diocese of Kottayam.

The local police who first investigated the matter could not bring out any evidence to prove the murder. The case was transferred to the Kerala Crime Branch on April 7, 1992 which claimed that Abhaya had committed suicide.

In the meantime, the Action Council, constituted for justice for Sister Abhaya, approached the Kerala High Court which directed the CBI to investigate the matter on March 29, 1993.

The CBI had earlier filed three closure reports which were rejected by the High Court.

Responses