In a shocking development in the Walayar rape case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has named the parents of the two minor victims as accused in its chargesheet filed in the Ernakulam CBI court. The parents face charges under Section 109 of the Indian Penal Code for abetment to rape, with the CBI alleging that they failed to report the abuse to the authorities promptly.
The case, which has garnered significant public attention, revolves around the deaths of two minor sisters from Walayar in Palakkad, Kerala. The girls, aged 13 and 9, were found hanging in their home in January and March 2017, respectively, following allegations of prolonged sexual abuse. The Kerala High Court had earlier transferred the case from the Palakkad POCSO Court to the CBI-designated court in Ernakulam, citing concerns about administrative delays and lapses in justice.
The initial police investigation led to the acquittal of five accused individuals, including close relatives and a neighbor of the family, due to insufficient evidence. This sparked widespread outrage, prompting the state government and the girls’ mother to demand a retrial. In 2021, the High Court ordered a fresh trial, citing “serious lapses” and “miscarriage of justice.”
A new CBI team, led by DySP VS Uma, was assigned to reinvestigate the case after the High Court rejected the earlier CBI report. The revised chargesheet now implicates the parents for failing to act despite knowing about the abuse.
This case has also been marred by controversies, including the involvement of the former chairperson of the Palakkad Child Welfare Committee, who allegedly represented one of the accused before assuming the role. The tragedy has raised significant questions about the effectiveness of child protection mechanisms and judicial processes in cases of sexual violence.
