CBI ordered to submit original video of narco tests in Sr Abhaya murder

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been given ten days time to recover the original narco-analysis footage of three accused in Sister Abhaya murder case.

A Kerala court directed the order after the nun's father C. Thomas raised questions over the footage which he claimed was manipulated by authorities having close links with the Catholic Church.

This was confirmed by Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIT) who found the tapes edited. According to the findings from C-DIT, quoted by the Deccan Herald, the 32-minute, 50-second CD was edited at 30 places.

The narco test was conducted last year last year on Fr Jose Putarika, Fr Thomas M. Kottorby and Sister Seffi - the three main accused in the sensational murder case. The Forensic Science Laboratory, Bangalore, conducted the tests.

The court has also ordered the questioning of officials who conducted the test at the Bangalore lab.

Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court has permitted the CBI to conduct a narco-analysis test on Sister Sherly, Achamma, and Thressiamma - inmates of the Pius X Convent where Sister Abhaya was found murdered. The victim's body was found in the convent well on March 27, 1992.

According to the CBI, Sister Abhaya was murdered in the hostel kitchen, when she saw the accused in "objectionable circumstances".