Warrant against 23 in Suryanelli sex scandal case

The Special Court that heard the Suryanelli sex abuse case has issued warrants against 23 of the accused who failed to

surrender before the court even after the High Court had found them guilty.

The High Court, which considered the case last month, had ratified the life imprisonment imposed on the first accused, Dharmarajan, and sentenced 23 others to imprisonment for various durations from three to 10 years.

Seven absolved Seven others were absolved of the crime for lack of evidence.

The Kerala High Court, when it considered the appeal in 2005, had absolved all the accused, except Dharmarajan, of the crime. The life imprisonment given to Dharmarajan by the Special Court earlier was reduced to five years imprisonment.

However, later, the Supreme Court had returned the case for reconsideration of the High Court. Following this, the High Court had reconsidered the merit of each case and sentenced the accused to various terms of imprisonment.