JOIN USCBI investigation sought into seminary rector's murder
The brother of one of the suspects in the Rector K J Thomas murder case has filed a petition in the High Court seeking a CBI probe into the yet unresolved mystery.
Thomas was found dead at St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary on April 1, 2013 and Father Patrick Xavier, the procurator, was the first to discover the body.
Upon investigation, it came to light that Father Xavier was sleeping just next door to Rector Thomas, but had claimed that he heard nothing on the night the crime was committed. Ultimately, he turned out to be a suspect in the case and was subjected to narco analysis test with two others, recently.
While Father Xavier had given his written consent for the test, his elder brother Mariadas filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking a stay on the narco test. However, the petition was dismissed.
Father Xavier underwent narco test at Ahmedabad in the second week of July along with two suspects. While the two maintained their statements, Father Xavier is said to have contradicted his earlier statement to the police. He reportedly disclosed that he saw some people on the fateful night.
However, he has not revealed the identity of the assailants, sources in the police said.
Police yet to get CD
According to police, Father Xavier might be aware of some information related to the crime, which he has decided not to disclose. The sources added this doesn’t mean that he was involved in the crime in any manner. The police have not yet questioned Father Xavier after narco analysis. A senior official handling the case said the City police were yet to receive the CD containing the video recording of the test and a report from the Central Forensic Laboratory, Ahmedabad.
Meanwhile, Mariadas has again moved the High Court seeking a direction that the narco analysis report should not be used as evidence against his brother. He also sought a CBI probe into the case. The City police have termed the move an attempt to scuttle the inquiry.
A senior official said the family of the rector and the Bangalore Archdiocese have expressed confidence in the City police.
According to the police, the victim’s family felt that handing over the probe to another investigating agency at this stage would hamper the inquiry as the new agency would have to start from the scratch.
The High Court on Friday issued a notice to the State government seeking its response on handing over the case to CBI.
Home Minister K J George told Deccan Herald that the City police have been doing an excellent job and they have to be given some time for completing the investigation. He said the government would place all the facts of the case before the court and oppose the CBI probe.