Court rejects plea against Kurien in Suryanelli rape case

A sessions court in Kerala's Thodupuzha on Saturday ruled that Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien will not be made an accused in the Suryanelli rape case.

This has come as a major relief for the Congress leader, who has so far maintained that he had been cleared of the charges by the Supreme Court and has called this a 'political conspiracy'.

Kurien's name figured in connection with this case after the victim wrote to her advocate in Delhi to explore the possibility of filing a review petition, seeking a fresh probe against the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman.

The girl had also written a letter to Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Leader of the Opposition, VS Achuthanandan, demanding that the probe against Kurien should be reopened.

A total of 42 men were accused of raping the 16-year-old girl, who hailed from Suryanelli in Kerala's Idukki District. According to reports after being raped for 45 days, she was told by the perpetrators to return home and keep mum.