Father Thomas Kottoor and Sister Sephy granted interim Bail in Sister Abhaya Case - Kerala HC

Case: Fr. Thomas Kottoor v Central Bureau of Investigation

Court: A division bench of Justices K Vinod Chandran and C Jayachandran 

The Kerala HC allowed the plea moved by Father Thomas Kottoor and Sister Sephy seeking suspension of their sentence in the Sister Abhaya case. The bench passed the order granting them interim bail subject to 

1. furnishing personal of ₹5 lakh each; and 

2. two solvent sureties of ₹5 lakh.

In December 2020, Father Kottoor, along with Sister Sephy, a nun of Pius Convent Kottayam, was convicted by a Thiruvananthapuram CBI Judge for the murder of 20-year-old nun Sister Abhaya. They were sentenced to imprisonment for life. The verdict of the CBI Court comes after more than 28 years after Sister Abhaya was found murdered at a convent in the Kottayam district. On March 27, 1992, her body was found inside the well of the convent. 

Before it was finally tried in court, the case went through many twists and turns.

In 1993, the State police reported saying it was a case of suicide. Activist Jomon Puthenpurackal took it to court, and the matter was handed over to CBI. In 1996, the CBI stated they could not conclude whether the case was a homicide or suicide. The Court ordered re-investigation. In 1997, the CBI concluded that the case was a homicide, however, there was no evidence to try. The same was rejected, and the third round of the CBI probe was directed.

In 2008, the first arrests in the case were made when Father Thomas Kottoor, Father Jose Poothrukayil, and Sister Sephy were arrested and charged with murder. In 2009, they were granted bail and Jose Poothrukayil was discharged from the accusations.

In 2021, Kottoor moved an appeal before a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court.