KOCHI: The High Court granted bail to Fr Thomas Kottoor and Sister Stephy, the convicts in Abhaya murder case suspending the execution of life imprisonment on the on the ground that nine circumstantial evidence was not valid. These were evidences found by CBI to prove them guilty.

It was alleged that the CBI had weakened the case by colluding with high-profile convicts to get bail. The court had rejected the argument of additional solicitor general P Suryakiran Reddy who appeared for CBI. 'On a prima facie look at the evidence as pointed out by the defense, and not effectively countered by the prosecution', said the court. The court also pointed out that these were not sufficient to prove that the accused are guilty. Division bench consisting of justices K Vinodchandran and C Jayachandran explained that they will not go into further details as the appeal is still pending.

The CBI court sentenced life imprisonment to Fr Kottur and Sister Stephy. The appeal was against this verdict.