In September 2000, a special court had sentenced the 35

accused to rigorous imprisonment for varying terms. However, a divsion bench of the High Court comprising Justices K A Abdul Gaffoor and Basant, acquitted all. Kurien is not part of the 35 accused, but the victim had filed a private complaint later on accusing him of involvement in the sexual assault. Kurien's name figured again in connection with the case after the victim recently wrote to her advocate to explore the possibility of filing a review petition, seeking a fresh probe against him, triggering demands for his resignation. He has maintained that he has already been cleared of the charges by the apex court. "If you read the judgement you will know why Justice Gaffoor (the fellow judge who is no more) and me had acquitted the accused. Please read the judgement. You will know why the girl was disbelieved, how much time we took to write the judgement," Justice Basant was shown as saying on the channel. "You should read the judgement and not say things like politicians on the platform for getting applause," he said. "Nobody reads the judgement, you just make comments". When pointed out that the apex court had expressed 'shock' on reading the HC judgement, he said those who have not read the judgement, will be shocked. "I am not blaming her. The girl is not normal, she is deviant. All these are there in the judgement", Justice Basant said. Women activists expressed shock at the former judge's statements. President of Anweshi, an NGO, K Ajitha said, justice Basant was an 'insult' to all judges in the country. Another activist Suja Susan said, she was shocked with justice Basant's views.