Three accused of raping 17 year old nursing student in Kerala

KOL
Kottayam,
Thursday 26 Feb 2009:

The Kottayam Special Court will pronounce the sentence of SME ragging case today. Ranjith Vargees (24), Sherin Shamsudeen (25) and Shafeek Yousuf (24) were found guilty of various charges and were listed as accused one to three.

Kottayam Special Court Judge K Shasidharan Nair Yesterday convicted three students in connection with the ragging and sexual assault on a 17-year-old nursing student of the School of Medical Education (SME) other four to nine accused were let off. Earlier, the pronouncement of verdict was deferred by the Court Tuesday.

Earlier, as per the prosecution, six of the accused had sexually assaulted a first year nursing student in the name of ragging and three accused tried to destroy evidence and engaged in criminal conspiracy to cover up the incident.

According to Superintendent of Police S. Sreejith, the nine accused are Renjith Varghese, Sherin, Shefique Yusuf, Ashly Varghese, Robin Paul, Divin Philip (all third year nursing students at SME) SME principal K.M. Mariam, director Muraleedharan and head of the Department of Psychiatry at Kottayam Medical College Dr. Zybunneesa Beevi.

The first six of the accused have been charge sheeted under sections 376 (2g), 342, 354, 366(a), 328 and 506(2) of Indian Penal Code. The SME principal, director and head of the Department of Psychiatry have been charge sheeted under sections 120(b), 201, 202 and 218.

In addition, the accused have been charge sheeted under provisions of the anti-ragging act also.
The case was registered on November 12, 2005 and the investigation was completed within 65 days.