Sabarimala Thanthri case trial to begin Thursday

KOCHI: The trial in the Sabarimala Thanthri case, in which Sobha John is one of the main accused, will begin on Thursday at the Ernakulam First Additional Assistant Sessions Court. Sobha John is the lone woman in the goonda list of the state police. Sobha John, an accused in the Varappuzha sex scandal, is currently absconding and due to this the trial could be interrupted. “Since some of the accused in the case are absconding, the trial proceedings could be interrupted. The court may even consider adjourning the trial to another day. The court can also opt to proceed with the accused in custody. The absconding persons can be split up from the current charge sheet after complying with the required formalities.  But it may take time, “ defence lawyer B Raman Pillai told ‘Express’.The Ernakulam Central Police has filed a chargesheet against 11 accused - Shobha John of Thiruvananthapuram, Binil Kumar alias Bijil of Vellarada, Anil Kumar of Sasthamangalam, Abdul Rahman alias Bachu Rahman, Ashif, Abdul Sahad, Abdul Sathar, Majeed, Shereef alias Umbu and Asees of Kasargod,and Biji Peter of Guruvayoor. Out of these, Majeed and Shereef are absconding. “The accused hatched a conspiracy and threatened the Thantri with a gun, in a Link Lexman flat in Ernakulam and grabbed his ornaments,” the chargesheet said. Five rings, including navaratna mothiram, pavitra mothiram, indraneelam, and two gold chains were stolen from him. The team allegedly took photographs of the Thantri and a woman in compromising positions and demanded `30 lakh. Kandararu Mohanaru, who first lodged a complaint with the Chengannur police alleged that he was kidnapped by a goonda gang. Later, he came up with a fresh complaint to the Central Police. The accused may get the benefits of this at the time of the trial.The revised complaint has the whole kidnapping episode left out. According to the revised complaint, Mohanaru went to Sobha John’s flat to talk about appointing a servant. It was then that five youngsters forced open the door, threatened him with weapons and demanded `30 lakh.The police have found that Sobha was the brain behind the episode. It was she who planned, designed and implemented the plot. A criminal Bachu Rahman had arranged the goondas, the police report said.