MUMBAI: After 28 years of investigation and trail, the CBI Court today found Father Thomas Kottoor and Sister Sephy to be guilty of the murder of Catholic nun Sister Abhaya (born Beena Thomas), who was found dead in a water well in St Pius X Convent in Kottayam on 27 March 1992.

The CBI Judge K Sanilkumar who had pronounced the judgement said the two were found guilty under IPC section 302 of murder, IPC section 201 for destruction of evidence, and others charges like house trespassing (IPC 449) which has been proven against them. The second accused, Father Jose Poothrukayil was however discharged from the case in 2018 for lack of evidence.

The sentence by the special court closes the chapter into an investigation of a death which is by far the longest running murder investigation in the State of Kerala which saw many twists and turns oover the years before it saw a logical closure. 

The local police which initially investigated the case had termed it as a suicide, latter due to public outcry the case was handed over to the crime branch which also did not make any headway and the case was sought to be closed. However following continues pressure and a legal battle launched by human-rights activist, Jomon Puthenpurackal, in 1993 the Kerala High Court directed the case be transferred to the CBI.

Interestingly the first team of CBI also failed to find the reason of death and the case did not make any headway, the HC then recommended a second CBI team which was able to crack the case and found the two priests and the sister responsible for the murder and arrested them on 19 November 2008. The three however obtained bail on 1 January, 2009. 

One of the most important testimonies in the case is attributed to a thief who was one of the key witnesses and remained steadfast on his stand all these years. Adakka Raju who had entered the compound to commit robbery in the convent had seen Father Kottoor and Father Puthrukkayil in the convent compound in the early hours of the day Sister’s Abhaya’s body was fished out of the well.

On the motive of the crime the CBI investigation has found that Sister Abhaya had accidentally intruded upon Sister Sephy and the other two accused priests in a 'compromising position. Sister Sephy panicked and, on the spur of the moment, she hit Abhaya with an axe meant for chopping firewood. The three accused then together dumped Abhaya's body into the well.

Expressing his happiness on the verdict Adakka Raju said Abhaya was as his child, and ensuring justice for her was his great wish. "I was subjected to lot of pressure and inducement but I did not accept a single coin. I still live in this very small colony. I am extremely happy because my child has got justice today,"

Puthenpurackal, who steadfastly fought for the case in the streets as well as in courts, said it was the God who worked in the form of Raju. "This is a verdict with God's own signature on it", he said.