Kochi, Friday, February 25, 2011: The Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate Court today ordered to reinvestigate the sensational Malankara Varghese murder case.

Earlier report:-

TM Varghese also known as Malankara Varghese, a member of Malankara Orthodox Church’s managing committee and a timber merchant was hacked to death by a gang outside a car workshop on main central road near Perumbavoor on December 5, 2002.

Though the murder was initially described as a result of business rivalry, his relatives suspected involvement of a rival Church faction.
The Kerala High Court had ordered a CBI investigation in November 2007 into this case.

On investigation, the CBI’s Chennai unit accused 19 people of the murder and said it was possibly due to the long standing feud between the Malankara Orthodox Church which has its headquarters in Kottayam and the Syrian Jacobite Church, which has its headquarters in Ernakulam.

The CBI on May 9, 2010 charged Father Varghese Thekkekara, a priest and manager of the Angamali diocese in the rival Jacobite Syrian Christian Church with conspiracy in the murder of Malankara Varghese and named him as the prime accused.

Joy Varghese, the second accused in the Malankara Varghese murder case was arrested by CBI for charges like conspiring the murder of Malankara Varghese, for providing hideout to the professional killers at his own house as well as arranging payments to them.

On Jun 11th, 2010, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Managing Committee endorsed a motion, which appeals to the authorities to bring all culprits into day light and to judicial trial who are behind the brutal murder of Malankara Varghese.

On Jun 16, 2010 Father Varghese Thekkekara surrendered before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Ernakulam. The Magistrate MNK Leelamani granted bail to him on furnishing a bond of Rs 25,000 plus two sureties for the like amount.