Samajwadi Party comes out in defence of embattled P J Kurien

Samajwadi Party today came out in defence of embattled Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien, saying a two-decade-old case settled by courts cannot be raked up against a person.

"A 17- or 20-year-old case settled by the courts cannot be

raked up against a person. Courts have said there is no case against him. He should not step down," SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav told reporters here.

He said once the courts have settled the matter, it should not be used against a person. Yadav's defence came a day after Kurien wrote to Rajya Sabha MPs saying the case against him is untrue.

Kurien's critics want his removal from the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman for his alleged involvement in the Suryanelli rape case. A school girl was allegedly abducted and raped by 42 men for 40 days. The victim recently named him as one of those who allegedly assaulted her in 1996.

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