Plea against Kurien in Suryanelli gangrape dismissed

The Supreme Court dismissed Tuesday a petition to probe the alleged role of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman P J Kurien in the 1996 Suryanelli gangrape. It questioned the locus of petitioner T P Nandakumar,a journalist.

“You do not have locus. Everybody wants to help us unnecessarily. Who are you? If the victim prefers to come here,we will hear her,” said the court.

The 16-year-old from Suryanelli in Idukki district of Kerala was kidnapped in January 1996 and sexually assaulted for over 40 days by different men. The apex court had in January 31 set aside a high court order acquitting 35 accused and asked it to re-examine the case.