Walayar rape and murder case: Special public prosecutor sacked

In the Kerala assembly session that was held on Monday (November 18), Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the special public prosecutor in the Walayar rape and murder case has been sacked as she was inefficient in handling the case.

Latha Jayaraj, the special public prosecutor in the case was expelled from the post on Monday (November 18).

The CM said the government is with the parents of the girls and that strict action will be taken against those who had not handled the investigation and case proceedings efficiently. Law minister AK Balan also said that the government has received a report regarding the lapses that occurred in the investigation of the case.

Pinarayi stressed that the best available lawyers will be appointed for hearing the appeal in the case. He added that the government will take a favourable stand with the parents of the victims. “CPI(M) has not intervened in the case. If the girl’s family demanded a CBI probe, the government will take a favourable stand,” he said.

Also read: BJP’s Rajasekharan on hunger strike for justice for Walayar rape victims

The Kerala government had faced widespread criticism over a botched investigation and shoddy prosecution regarding a case of sexual assault and murder of two minor girls in Walayar. Vijayan also had to deal with the criticism of the public following revelations that the ruling CPI(M) had tried to influence the investigation.

In 2017, two sisters, aged 13 and nine were found dead in two separate incidents in Walayar. Their post-mortem report had revealed that they had been sexually assaulted. The police had arrested the three accused, V Madhu, Shibu and M Madhu, and booked them under the Protection of Child against Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act.

The parents of the two girls had also met Pinarayi Vijayan earlier seeking a CBI investigation into the case. The opposition Congress-led UDF had disrupted the proceedings on the first day of the 16th session of Kerala Assembly and staged a walkout, demanding a CBI probe.