Citing "fresh and concrete evicence", Indian detectives have arrested two priests and a nun over the 1992 murder in Kerala of 21 year old Sr Abhaya. Indian Catholic reports Fr Thomas Kottur, 61, and Fr Jose Puthrukkayil, 56, were arrested on Tuesday. Sr Sephi, 45, was arrested on Wednesday.
Central Bureau of Investigation joint director Ashok Kumar told a press conference at the CBI headquarters that all three were arrested from Kottayam.
"We have fresh evidence against them. Unless we have evidence, we will not take anyone into custody," Kumar said.
"It is the endeavour of the CBI to complete the investigation as expeditiously as possible," he said, adding that the court "expect us to complete the investigations as early as possible."
"Unconfirmed reports will affect the case. We are investigating all the aspects," he told the press in a veiled request to keep away from unconfirmed reports.
He also assured that they will not "mentally or physically torture the accused in its custody. We give them good food, good water and all medical assistance too."
A team of 30 officials constituted the CBI officers who investigated the case, including officers who know the local language, to handle the case.
The Times of India notes the accused were presented before the Chief Judicial Magistrate's court in Ernakulam on Wednesday afternoon.
The court left them in police custody for further investigation until December 2.
Defence lawyers appealed for bail but CBI counsel argued against it saying investigation needs further questioning to complete the probe and find missing links in the case.
The court also rejected a defence plea that the arrested be questioned in the presence of their lawyers. The court said the case needs free investigation and refused the plea.
Kottayam archdiocese in a press release said the facts leading to the arrests were "mysterious."
It also questioned police suddenly gaining proofs of the priests' involvement, which they had failed to have in the past 16 years of investigations.
It also said the "innocent" priests and the nun suffered physical and mental harassment for 16 years as police linked them with the case without having ample evidence.
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(Source: CTHN)