Church meddled in Suryanelli probe
Admitting a lack of co-ordination among various women’s groups in Kerala in dealing with the sensational Suryanelli sex scandal case, a leading social activist said on Monday that an impartial probe by a sincere police officer could easily ensure justice to the victim. K. Ajitha, who blamed lack of sensitivity of the judiciary in denying justice to the victim, alleged that the then investigating officer, Sibi Mathews, tried to absolve former central minister and the current deputy chairman of upper house of parliament, PJ Kurien, from the case under pressure from the Church, and not from political circles. “Sibi Mathews did not try to save other accused, but he was influenced by the Church authorities as he was a believer,” she said. “We have strong laws to deal any criminal offence, but the political pressure on implementing bodies become a hindrance in providing justice to victims,” she said, dismissing politicisation of the 1996 case that involved around a 16-year-old girl