Sooryanelli rape survivor files complaint against Siby Mathews after humiliating remarks in book

Former DGP Siby Mathews was the officer in charge of the investigation into the Suryanelli case 37 men, including Congress leader PJ Kurien, were accused of raping the woman, back in 1996 Mathews raises doubts about the woman’s character and says Kurien was dragged into the case  The survivor has filed complaints with the Kerala Chief Minister and the state women’s commission

The Suryanelli rape case survivor has accused retired DGP Siby Mathews of humiliating her and questioning her character in his recently released book Nirbhayam (fearless).

Mathews was the officer in charge of the investigation into the Suryanelli case. In the sensational case, at least 37 men, including Congress leader PJ Kurien, were accused of raping the woman, back in 1996 when she was a minor.

In Nirbhayam, Mathews discusses the Suryanelli case among others. He raises doubts about the woman’s character and states that Kurien was deliberately dragged into the case. The former DGP also accuses the survivor of making up stories and withholding information to mislead the probe in its initial stages. 

The survivor has now filed complaints with the Kerala Chief Minister and the state women’s commission that Mathews has subjected her family and her to public humiliation again, according to an Onmanorama report. 

The woman said she was being humiliated even at her workplace and that Mathews' claims were a violation of her right to live. The allegation comes at a time when an appeal in the case is pending before the Supreme Court.

The 16-year-old schoolgirl was reportedly lured under the promise of marriage and kidnapped from Suryanelli in Idukki in 1996. She was allegedly raped by 37 people over a period of 40 days, while five others were accused of abetting the crime.