Three months after 20-year-old Kerala student Jesna Mariya James went missing, the police continue to probe the case. On Wednesday, Jesna's family moved the Kerala High Court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the BCom student's mysterious disappearance.
Jesna's family confirmed to TNM that they have legally raised the need for a CBI probe. The family approached the court with the demand in the wake of the Kerala police investigation failing to produce any leads.
Although the family feels that the probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) is being carried out in the right direction, the family is dejected that the probe has still not given a useful lead.
Meanwhile, more details of the case emerged, with the SIT confirming that Jesna had sent a text message to one of her friends, that she was going to die. This message, say police, was the last message that was sent from her phone before Jesna went missing in March this year.
Police have been questioning the friend to whom Jesna had sent this particular text message. Reports stated that the police team recovered a blood-stained cloth from Jesna's house and that they are carrying out an investigation based on this.
However, sources close in the SIT told TNM that the cloth was recovered from the bathroom in Jesna's house over a month ago.
"We had sent it for forensic examination, but it hasn't given us any leads. The cloth has been washed several times, there's nothing useful we got from it," the source said.
Pathanamthitta SP T Narayanan said that the team continues to investigate the case thoroughly.
"We are questioning everyone related to the case, we are not leaving out anybody. We are also questioning some people multiple times. At this point, we cannot verify any information, but we are looking into every angle," the SP said.
March in Thiruvananthapuram
On Wednesday, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala took out a march to the Assembly, demanding a CBI probe into Jesna's disappearance. Jesna's family also took part in the march.
"Ninety-one days have passed since Jesna went missing. Kerala police have been degraded. Kerala police is doing the work of bathing dogs and they are even used as midwives. Such things have not happened before. This proves the lack of political will of the government. This is the biggest proof of the political leadership and government’s failure,” Chennithala was quoted as saying.
Jesna Maria James went missing on March 22.