Tenyear RI for five convicted in Kerala sex scandal

A special CBI court here on Wednesday awarded the maximum sentence of ten years rigourous imprisonment for five people convicted in the sensational Kiliroor sex scandal case.

Judge T S P Moosath also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on three of the convicted - Manoj, Prasanth and Praveen, while the fourth convict, Latha Nair,  was fined Rs 10,000 and the fifth, Kochumon (Binu), Rs 25,000.

The fine amount would be handed over to the child of the victim. The five were found guilty of kidnap, rape and conspiracy. One of the accused in the case, Omanakutty, a relative of the victim,had earlier turned approver and had been let off. Another accused, Soman, had been let off as charges against him could not be conclusively proved.

In 2003, a young girl of Kiliroor in central Kerala, was sexually exploited at different places in the state by a gang who promised her opportunity to act in television serials. The girl died at a hospital in 2004 after giving birth to a child. The case became sensational as influential persons were allegedly involved. There were also allegations that a VIP visited the girl just before she died and her death itself was a mystery.

However, CBI which enquired the case, dismissed the allegations. Parents of the victim said only small fry had been punished.