CBI to conduct narco test on witnesses in Abhaya case

The Kerala High Court Wednesday asked the CBI to conduct a narco analysis test on a nun and two other women employees of the Saint Pius Convent where Sister Abhaya was found dead 17 years ago.

The Kerala High Court Wednesday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a narco analysis test on a nun and two other women employees of the Saint Pius Convent where Sister Abhaya was found dead 17 years ago.

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The three women had approached the high court and filed a petition after their plea of not being subject to the narco analysis test was turned down by the court of the chief judicial magistrate here.

The three women - Sister Sherly, Achamma and Thersiamma - are witnesses in the case. Sister Sherly was inside the Saint Pius Convent when the incident took place.

Justice Sashidharan Nambiar said those undergoing the test would not face any health problems. The three accused, who are out on bail now, underwent the test earlier.

Meanwhile, CBI also wants to conduct the narco analysis test on KT Michael, former senior police officer who investigated the case. The petition is expected to be taken up by the court next week.

Sister Abhaya, a resident of Pius X Convent, was found dead in the convent March 27, 1992. In the case, CBI had concluded that Sister Seffi had hit Sister Abhaya thrice with an axe in the room next to the kitchen of the convent and later dropped her in an unconscious state into a well.

Three accused in the case, two priests and Sister Seffi, were granted bail by the Kerala High Court January 1 this year. The three accused were arrested Nov 19 by a CBI team after 12 earlier teams failed to crack the case.

The accused were Jose Putarika, a former Malayalam professor at the Kottayam college where Abhaya studied, Thomas M. Kottor, a Diocesan chancellor of the Catholic Church at Kottayam, and Sister Seffi, a resident of the Saint Pius Convent.