Catholic priest Thomas Kottoor and nun Sephy held guilty of murdering sister Abhaya by CBI Court

Date: 22/12/2020

A special CBI court in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday convicted two accused persons — a priest and a nun — in connection with the Sister Abhaya murder case. The quantum of punishment for the two convicts — father Thomas Kottoor and Sister Sephy will be pronounced on Wednesday.

The body of the 19-year-old Catholic nun — Sister Abhaya — was found in a well inside the St Pius X convent in the Kottayam district of Kerala on March 27, 1992. In 2008, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had recorded the arrests of two Catholic priests father Thomas Kottoor and father Jose Puthrukkayil, and a nun Sr Sephy.

While father Kottoor and Sister Sephy were chargesheeted by the CBI on various charges including murder, destruction of evidence and criminal conspiracy, father Puthrukkayil was let off by a trial court in 2018 for lack of evidence. The case was transferred to the CBI in 1993 after human rights activist Jomon Puthenpurackal filed a case. The case was earlier being investigated by local police and crime branch.

Date: 22/12/2020

IN THE COURT OF THE ADDITIONAL SESSIONS JUDGE/
SPECIAL JUDGE (SPE/CBI),THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Present: Sri. K.Sanilkumar BAL; LLB,

Additional Sessions Judge/ Special Judge (SPE / CBI)
SC. No.1114/2011
RC 8(S)/1993/CBI/KER

Petitioner/ Complainant :­

Central Bureau of Investigation, SCB,
Thiruvananthapuram
Represented by : Sri.M.Navas
Public Prosecutor, CBI.
Counter petitioners/Accused Persons :­

1- Father Thomas Kottoor,( A1)
S/o K.T.Mathew,
Kottoor House,
Kidangoor,
Kottayam, Kerala.

2- Sister Sephy, (A3)
D/o Joseph,
St. Joseph’s Generalate,
S.H mount, Kottayam, Kerala.
(Kangrathumoothy House,
Kurumulloor, Kottayam)

Represented by: Adv: B. Raman Pillai for A1
Represented by: Adv. J. Jose for A3

CBI Court Thiruvananthapuram

Case Details

Case Type: SC – SESSIONS CASE
Filing Number: 401114/2011Filing Date: 10-11-2011
Registration Number: 401114/2011Registration Date: 10-11-2011
CNR Number: KLTV04-000029-2011

Case Status

First Hearing Date: 09th December 2016
Next Hearing Date: 22nd December 2020
Stage of Case: Order/Judgement
Court Number and Judge: 1-Special Judge (SPE /CBI) Trivandrum

Petitioner and Advocate

1) CBI
    Advocate- Navas.M

Respondent and Advocate

1) Father Thomas Kottoor
    Advocate – Senior Advocate B.Raman Pillai

2) XXXXXXX(Name quashed from charge-sheet/complaint)

    Advocate-Senior Advocate.B.Raman Pillai
3) Sister Sephy

    Advocate-J.Jose

Acts