Two granted bail in nun rape case

Two persons arrested in the Kandhamal nun rape case were granted bail by the Orissa High Court on Monday.

Bisi Majhi and Jatia Bisoi were granted bail on condition that a bond of Rs 30,000 and two sureties each of like amount shall be furnished before a lower court.

Both the accused were arrested by the crime branch of Orissa police in July 2010.

While the crime branch had filed chargesheets against at least 30 persons, only 22 have been arrested till date.

In fact at least 19 persons of the 22 arrested have been so far granted bail by the High Court.

The 29-year-old nun was allegedly raped by a mob on August 25, 2008 in the aftermath of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati's murder.

Saraswati's killing had triggered widespread violence against Christians in 2008.

The crime branch on Monday said its investigation revealed top Maoists were involved in the assassination of Saraswati.

Three Maoists were among seven persons chargesheeted in the killing.

The chargesheets for murder, criminal conspiracy and trespass were filed before the sub-divisional judicial magistrate's court at Baliguda, Superintendent of Police R C Behera told PTI.

The chargesheets were filed after the crime branch established prima-facie evidence against the Maoist leaders, Behera said.