Rector murder: petition seeking CBI probe dismissed

Mangalore Today News Network

Bangalore, July 02, 2014:  The Karnataka High Court on Friday dismissed a petition filed by the mothers of the two priests, accused of murdering rector Fr K J Thomas (62), seeking a CBI inquiry.

Justice Ashok B Hinchigeri dismissed the petition after the police submitted that they have completed the investigation and arrested the accused. The chargesheet has also been filed and there is no point in handing over the case to CBI now, officials said.

Petitioners,  Mariam, mother of Father Patrick, and Philomina, mother of Father Illyas, in their petition said the case is ‘sensitive’ and thus warrants an independent probe.

The city police had arrested three people, including Patrick, Illyas and a layperson Peter, on March 20, 2014. The petitioners claimed that their sons were innocent and were not involved in the murder.  The rector was murdered at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in the city on the night of March 31, 2013