The CBI has taken over the probe into the suspicious death of a 12-year-old Alappuzha native after the case witnessed a long legal battle. It was the case related to the death of Shreya Benny native of Kaithavana and seventh standard student who was found dead at a pond while attending a three-day camp at a religious institution in October 2010.
It was in September this year Kerala High Court directed CBI to take over the investigation in the case. While CBI investigation was sought in 2011, the CBI expressed its inability to take over the probe owning severe staff shortage. The case was first registered at Alappuzha South Police Station was later handed over to Crime Branch in 2014. "The FIR of the case has been registered at Thiruvananthapuram Chief Judicial Magistrate Court. E P Suresh Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, CBI, Special Crime Branch (SPB). Kochi has been entrusted to probe the case. Soon the statements of the relatives and persons who were chargesheeted by the Crime Branch will be recorded," CBI officer said.
Shreya, daughter of Benny was the student at St Antony's School, Alappuzha in 2010. She attended an awareness camp from October 15 to October 17 organised at Accept Kripa Bhavan, Kaithavana an institution under Archdiocese of Changanassery.
On October 16, the victim who slept after the dinner was found missing. In the subsequent search, the body was found from a pond near the institution around 80 meters distance from the place where she slept. The post-mortem report claimed the death occurred due to drowning. The Crime Branch which took over the investigation filed charge sheet finding Fr Mathukutty and Sister Sneha Maria the in charge of the institution as accused in the case. Section 304 IPC (death by negligence) was charged against the duo.
However, Kerala High Court considering a petition filed by Kalarcode Venugopalan alleging Crime Branch investigation was no proper, decided to quash the charge sheet filed by Crime Branch at Alappuzha Judicial First Class Magistrate and hand over the probe to CBI.
