Vandiperiyar Rape-Murder: Minor's Mother Moves Kerala High Court Seeking Reinvestigation By A Special Investigation Team

A local Court had acquitted the sole accused Arjun citing improper investigation and lack of evidence.

The plea moved by the mother stated that the police had conducted a 'planned investigation' to save the real culprits from the law. It was averred that even though it was found that the child was subjected to sexual assault including rape, it was due to the faulty investigation that the Trial Court had to acquit the sole accused for insufficient evidence.

“….The court below also indirectly indicated the same in the judgement under the head 'Defects in Investigation'. The investigation was biased, tainted, inefficient and untruthful which resulted in an unmerited acquittal. A fair, honest, impartial, efficient and independent re investigation is necessary in the matter, stated the plea.

The plea averred that the sole accused was acquitted due to the defective and biased investigation conducted by the police. Further, the plea alleged that the investigating officer failed to collect fingerprints or medical evidence from the scene of occurrence and it was also alleged that material objects collected from the scene of occurrence were in an unpacked and unsealed condition, and were produced before the Court after huge delay.

The plea stated that a fair and impartial re-investigation is warranted by a special investigation team for collecting circumstantial and medical evidence against the accused.

The plea stated that the deceased minor girl belonged to a marginalized community in the society and her family deserve a fair trial and investigation into the death of their daughter as guaranteed by the Constitution of India.

The plea has been moved by Advocates P V Jeevesh, C K Radhakrsihnan

Case title: XXX v State of Kerala

Case number: WP (Crl) No. 147/2024