Govt has not ruled out probe in Suryanelli case: Chandy

Facing intensified Opposition attack, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy tonight indicated that the government had not totally ruled out the possibility of a further investigation into the alleged involvement of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson P J Kurien in the Suryanelli gangrape case. "Who had said there would not be a further investigation? I have only said that an appropriate decision would be taken after getting the legal opinion. Let us wait for the legal opinion," Chandy told reporters as the CPI-M led LDF raised the temperature on the issue both inside and outside Assembly. The LDF members accused the Congress-led UDF government of trying to avoid further investigation in the 1996 case. They first walked out of the house and later disrupted proceedings, alleging that the protesters including two women MLAs were roughed up by police before the assembly complex. CPI MLA from Peerumade in Idukky E S Bijimol complained in the house that she had had a harrowing experience with police when she went out to pledge support to the march. LDF members then rose in protest demanding action against the erring police officials before boycotting the House in the afternoon, leading to its adjournment. Countering the opposition in the assembly, Chandy said, "Government has sought legal opinion on whether it can reopen a case discharged by the Supreme Court. Government is yet to get legal advice on it," Radhakrishnan said. An unfazed Kurien has all along rejected the charge and the demand for his resignation, saying it was a matter which had already been cleared by the Supreme Court. After the adjournment, Leader of the Opposition V S Achuthanandan said LDF would continue the battle to press its demand. The girl from Suryanelli in Idukki district was abducted in January 1996 and transported from place to place across Kerala and sexually exploited by different persons. Kurien's name figured again in connection with the case after the victim wrote to her advocate on January 29 to explore the possibility of filing a review petition, seeking a fresh probe against him.