Nun Abhaya Murder Case Verdict Out: Here is what transpired in the last 28 years

After 28 years, Sister Abhaya murder case has reached its final end with CBI court in Thiruvananthapuram finding Thomas M Kottor, Diocesan chancellor of Catholic Church at Kottayam and Nun Sephy, a resident of convent at time of murder, guilty of crime.  

first accused was found guilty and charged under section 302, 201, and 449 under IPC and Sephy under 302 and 201. Here is exhaustive timeline of most clinching murder mystery to have been resolved by CBI in Kerala. 

Complete timeline of murder case

• 1992, March 27:  de body of 18-year-old nun is found in a well at Kottayam Pius X Convent. 
• 1992, March 31: Allegations arise that Kerala Police is trying to sabotage investigation. Kottayam Municipality chairman P C Cheriyan and Jomon Puthanpurakkal form an action council for justice for Abhaya. first protest organised by action council begins. Abhaya's mor Leelama and far Thomas states y don't trust police investigation. case gets transferred to crime branch after police investigation for 17 days. 
• 1992, May 18: Chief Minister K Karunakaran recommends CBI investigation in matter 
• 1993 January 30: After 9.5 months of investigation, crime branch ends investigation and submits report in Kottayam RDO court.
• 1993, March 29: CBI registers FIR at Ernakulam CJM court. CBI Kochi unit DYSP Varghese P Thomas starts investigation. Within 6 months submits a report that Abhaya was murdered and it was not a case of suicide as found out by Kerala Police and Crime Branch CBI case dairy registers it as murder.
• As per charge sheet, Abhaya happened to see three accused in "suspicious circumstances". Fearing that she would "reveal" incident to ors, accused hit her with a blunt object. Abhaya, 21, fell unconscious and was thrown into well of her Pious 10th Convent, Kottayam, where she was found de
• 1993, December 31: Varghese P Thomas takes voluntary retirement. 
• 1994, March 7: retired CBI official goes to media during a press conference in Ernakulam to say his superior officer V Thyagarajan put pressure on him to make murder case into an act of suicide and that he was constantly harassed for not budging to ir demands.  case gets mentioned in Kerala Legislative Assembly
• 1994, June 2: Three Kerala MPs registers complaint against V Thyagarajan to CBI Director K Vijayaramarao. After it, officer was taken out of case and transferred to Chennai. DIG ML Sharma takes over investigation 
• 1996, December 6: CBI submits a report in court that despite case being a murder investigation team didn't find enough evidence of accused and requested court to close case. A report was submitted
• 1997, March 20: court rejects report and orders reinvestigation.
• 1999 July 12: CBI team submits anor report requesting closure of case citing no breakthrough to find culprits.
• 2000, June 23: Court rejects report for second time, orders reinvestigation
• 2005, August 30: CBI submits, for third time, to request closure of case. 
• 2006, August 21: For third time, court rejects report. CBI directors form a new team under SP R M Krishna and Dy SP R K Agarwal. For first time, accused were taken for a narco analysis test
• 2008, September 4: investigation is moved from Delhi unit of CBI
• 2008, November 1: DySP Nandakumar (current SP) takes charge of case
• 2008, November 18: Fr Thomas Kottor, Fr Jose Puthrakayil and Sister Sephy arrested by CBI team led by Nandakumar Nair. 
• 2008, December 3: Virginity test of Sister Sephy leaks. It comes to fore that she underwent hymenoplasty to restore her virginity. Report by Dr P Rema and Dr Lalithambika Karunakaran also said nun was sexually very active and her hymen was subject to surgical interference.
• 2009, July 17: CBI submits charge sheet at CBI court in Ernakulam
• 2011, March 16: accused submits bail plea
• 2014, March 19: action council member Joemon Puthanpurakkal files case aginst crime branch SP, KT Michael of tampering with evidence along with ors. High court orders CBI to probe matter.
• 2015, June 30: CBI submits report against Crime Branch DySP K Samuel and arraigned him as a co-accused in Thiruvananthapuram CBI Court
• 2018 January 22: For tampering with evidence CBI special court Judge J Nasar orders to make Crime Branch SP KT Michael as fourth accused in case. 
• 2018, March 7: Second accused Fr Jose Puthrakayil gets struck off from accused list for lack of evidence. Freed from CBI court case. Supreme court rejects bail application of Accused number 1 Fr Thomas Kotoor and accused number 3 Sister Sephy
• 2019, August 26: trial begins at CBI court 
• 2020, December 10: All arguments heard, trial ends. 
• 2020, December 22: Court finds Fr Thomas Kotoor and Sister Sephy guilty of crime. Sister Sephy breaks down in court. Quantum of punishment to be pronounced on December 23.

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