Kottayam, Tuesday, February 24, 2009: Kottayam Special Court is all set pronounce its verdict on the infamous SME ragging case today

The police have named nine persons as accused in the charge sheet submitted to the First Class Judicial Magistrate Court, Ettumanur, in the ragging case at the School of Medical Education (SME) under Mahatma Gandhi University.

As per the prosecution, six of the accused had sexually assaulted a first year nursing student in the name of ragging and three accused tried to destroy evidence and engaged in criminal conspiracy to cover up the incident.

According to Superintendent of Police S. Sreejith, the nine accused are Renjith Varghese, Sherin, Shefique Yusuf, Ashly Varghese, Robin Paul, Divin Philip (all third year nursing students at SME) SME principal K.M. Mariam, director Muraleedharan and head of the Department of Psychiatry at Kottayam Medical College Dr. Zybunneesa Beevi.

The first six of the accused have been charge sheeted under sections 376 (2g), 342, 354, 366(a), 328 and 506(2) of Indian Penal Code.

The SME principal, director and head of the Department of Psychiatry have been charge sheeted under sections 120(b), 201, 202 and 218.

In addition, the accused have been charge sheeted under provisions of the anti-ragging act also.

The case was registered on November 12, 2005 and the investigation was completed within 65 days