Soumya murder: HC stays proceedings against Dr Unmesh

The Kerala High Court has stayed the proceedings initiated by the Thrissur Sessions Court against Dr A.K. Unmesh, who was an Associate Professor in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Thrissur Government Medical College, in connection with the Soumya murder case.

The Kerala government had suspended Dr Unmesh, from service for his conduct and false testimony in the Soumya murder case.

Soumya's murder had shocked the Keralites. Soumya, hailing from Manjakkad near Shornur, was travelling in train a from Ernakulam to Shornur when one Govindachamy pushed her out of the train near Vallathol Nagar railway station on February 1 and raped her.  The court had later awarded capital punishment to the accused.

The Session's Court ordered registration of a crime against Dr Unmesh for giving false evidence before the court. Unmesh had deposed before the court that it was he who had conducted the post-mortem of Soumya's body, and not Dr Sherly Vasu, the head of the Forensic department.

His testimony had contradicted that of Dr Sherly Vasu. He was accused of favouring the defence.  The Thrissur fast track court had observed that Dr. Unmesh had failed in his duty and breached service rules.