In a rare incident, Kerala police have arrested a Kottayam resident for having defaced state High Court Justice V Shircy’s official car with black oil. The accused, R Raghunathan, did so demanding an active and effective search for the missing Jessna Maria.
The event took place near the entrance of the Kerala High Court compound, where Raghunathan alongside a few others was protesting. Following the attack on the car, the HC security caught Raghunathan who had kept demanding that he knew a lot and the police are yet to question him on the missing case. He is currently held at the Central Police Station, as the police and HC Registrar continue to probe the incident.
Reportedly, Raghunathan has told police officials that the defacement of the official car follows the infinite extension of Jessna’s case at the court, and delay in justice for her family. He also informed that the police officials have not yet followed through the allegations he made concerning the case, especially his claim that it was not a kidnapping, but a murder. Targeting Justice Shircy’s car follows the latter’s rejection of a Habeas Corpus writ filed by Jessna’s family, citing certain technical issues.
In 2018, Jessna, who was then a 20-year-old second-year graduate student, was reportedly going to her relative’s home, and police were able to trace her until Erumeli. However, local police investigation stopped short following a lack of evidence, and another team was formed under the leadership of Thiruvalla DySP. They searched nearby districts, locations, and around her home. Following suspicious sightings, the police searched for her in Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai and even questioned her closest friends.
As the investigation did not progress, another team under the aegis of ADGP Manoj Abraham began looking into the matter in September 2018. Later, the case went to the Crime Branch, where it showed promise under KG Simon. However, before anything could be revealed or furthered, the officer retired.
