Verdict on tantri case posted to Aug 7

Tuesday, July 31, 2012: The Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court postponed to August 7 the verdict in the sensational Sabarimala tantri blackmailing case.


Sobha John is the main accused in the case. During the trial, the court examined 51 witnesses. The accused hatched a conspiracy and threatened the tantri with a gun at the Link Laxman flat here. Five rings, including the ‘navaratna mothiram’, ‘pavitra mothiram’ and ‘indraneelam’, and two gold chains were stolen from him.


The conspirators allegedly took photographs of the tantri and a woman in compromising positions and demanded Rs 30 lakh. The Ernakulam Central police had filed a chargesheet against 11 accused- Shobha John of Thiruvananthapuram, Binil Kumar alias Bijil of Vellarada, Anil Kumar of Sasthamangalam, Abdul Rahman alias Bachu Rahman, Ashif, Abdul Sahad, Abdul Sathar, Majeed, Shereef alias Umbu and Asees of Kasargod,and Biji Peter of Guruvayoor.


The offences against the accused are criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, rioting, dacoity and destroying the evidence.