Kerala Women's Commission chairperson Sugathakumari has reportedly written to the High Court, praying that the special judge be appointed without further delay. The State Government had ordered the setting up of a special court on December 22, 1996 for the speedy disposal of the case.

A few logistical bottlenecks which obviously delayed the judge's appointment have been cleared by the State Government. The former Land Tribunal office at the Kottayam Civil Station has been done up to welcome the special judge and his staff. The Land Tribunal office was shifted to Room 232 in the Civil Station and the occupant of Room No 232 moved out by January-end for the appointment which is yet to be.

The scandal, which erupted at the fag end of theAntony government's rule, was a major campaign point for the LDF during the 1996 general elections. The 15-year-old girl, who was studying in the 9th standard at Little Flower Convent School in Munnar, disappeared from the hostel on January 16, 1996 and returned after 40 days, on February 25, with harrowing tales of sexual assault. The Munnar CI started the investigation which was taken up later by a special team of the Crime Branch.

On March 28, 1996 the girl's father submitted a petition to then chief minister AK Antony with a submission by the victim that she had identified from a photo in the Mathrubhumi that one of the assailants was former Union Minister PJ Kurien, who was called Baaji in the deposition. But no evidence was found against Kurien.

Later, the Nayanar Government also ordered a probe, but here too nothing was found against Kurien. Kurien's itinerary in Kottayam on the crucial days was found nearly intact and it was opined that he could not have visited the girl at Kumily resthouse during the time mentioned by her.

Out of the 42 accused, 40 were arrested and are on bail. One assailant remains unidentified.

However, the victim's father filed a private complaint in the court of the first class magistrate at Peerumedu, with Kurien as a prime accused. Two witnesses have already deposed that they had seen Prof Kurian at the Kumily house during the days as alleged by the victim. Incidentally, Kurien's defamation case against Desabhimani is pending in court.

The sexual assault victim faces a veritable threat to her life, being the primary source for the possible conviction of an array of assailants, among whom are influential politicians. There was an attempt to raid her house and threaten her into submission in the initial days after the crime. A separate case is pending against three of the 40 accused for attempted intimidation and assault at her residence.