Kiliroor sex scandal victim dies

November 14, 2004

Kottayam - Shari S Nair, the girl at the centre of the sensational Kiliroor sex scandal died at the Medical College Hospital (MCH) here on Saturday after a prolonged battle with various infections developed after delivery, hospital sources said.

The condition of the girl, who had been under treatment at the MCH for the last two weeks, had worsened in the last few days after both her kidneys failed.

The sex scandal involving the girl came out after she delivered a baby girl at a private hospital here after which her father filed a complaint before the police that several persons had sexually exploited her by offering roles in teleserials.

The investigation into the case, in which prominent persons were allegedly involved, is being done by a special police team headed by DIG R Sreelekha, following an outcry over the issue from various quarters including women's organisations and political parties.

Official sources revealed that in view of the serious turn the case was taking, the government had recommended to the Centre for a CBI enquiry into the scandal. Six persons, including the key accused, Latha Nair who allegedly took the girl to many places, had been arrested and are in judicial custody now.

Reacting to the death of Shari, CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan demanded that a case for murder be charged against the accused in the case.

Social activist and poet Sugathakumari said in Thiruvananthapuram that the news of the girl's death was very painful. "I only hope and pray that the incident will open the eyes of all, especially girls," she said.

In a related incident, a whole family which had connection to Latha Nair committed suicide. No proper enquiry was conducted on the mysterious suicide of the Namboothiri family.

In the `suicide note', they had stated that Latha Nair was responsible for their death and had referred to the Kiliroor sex scandal.

In spite of high-sounding statements from top political leaders nothing has been done in terms of investigation.

Now this news about the fact that Anagha the Namboothiri girl too was subjected to rape and harazzment. Semen has been found on her body.

KERALA POLICE and the Govt and the Opposition seem to be the bootlickers of the criminals.

Government should find out the `VIP': VS

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, NOV. 17. The Leader of the Opposition, V.S. Achuthanandan, has said that the Government and the police should find out the `VIP' involved in the Kiliroor-Kaviyoor sex racket case instead of asking him to identify the person.

Mr. Achuthanandan told a news conference here today that he would have divulged the name of the person if he knew it. The doctor, who treated the girl at the private hospital where she was initially admitted, had not given him any clue about the identity of the VIP. In a letter written to the Chief Minister, on October 10, he had sought urgent steps to find the VIP. Instead of doing so, the Chief Minister was trying to create a smokescreen and save the powerful persons involved in the case, Mr. Achuthanandan said.

Chandy criticised

He also took exception to the Chief Minister's contention that the case was referred to the CBI on account of questions raised about the integrity of the State police's investigation team. The argument, he said, was `absolute nonsense' and said there was lack of faith in the members of the investigation team only on account of their past actions and its failure to catch the powerful persons involved in the case even one month after its constitution.

To questions, Mr. Achuthanandan said that he had no objection to the investigation covering CPI(M) leaders as well. If anyone from the CPI(M) was involved in the case, he or she should be identified, he said. He, however, took objection to what he termed attempts by a section of the media to make him speak against the CPI(M) Central committee member, P. K. Sreemathy. He felt that the silence about the Kaviyoor angle of the case, involving the suicide by an entire Namboodiri family, was deliberate.

Six persons `involved'

Mr. Achuthanandan said at least six prominent persons could have been involved in the Kiliroor-Kaviyoor case and that none of them had been questioned during the last one month. The investigation team had also not cared to examine evidences such as Latha Nair's diary, the mobile phone that the Kiliroor case victim used, the suicide note of Narayanan Namboodiri and the reasons for the sudden deterioration in the condition of the girl after a normal delivery, he said.

He said the LDF's agitation for the ouster of the Industries Minister, P.K. Kunhalikutty, for his alleged involvement in the Kozhikode ice-cream parlour sex scandal case would continue till the objective was achieved.

Even if the Chief Minister tried to save him or the Opposition remained lax in its campaign, the masses would not leave it at that. He also felt that polygraph test should be conducted in the Kozhikode ice-cream parlour case.

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