World · South & Central Asia · 10 hrs ago
Court checks whether priest sentenced to death has a lawyer
A court in Madurai is reviewing a death sentence given to preacher Abraham in a case involving four girls in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district.
A special court convicted him of sexually assaulting the girls, who were taken on a religious trip in 2022.
The girls included three from the same family.
The sentence must be reviewed by the High Court, which can decide whether to confirm it.
During a video hearing, judges asked Abraham whether he planned to appeal and had appointed a lawyer.
He said a lawyer had taken his signature, but the court ordered prison officials to check their records and report whether a lawyer was formally appointed.
The court will take up the case again on October 16; Abraham also told the judges he had been beaten after his arrest, and they said he could raise his claims through a lawyer.
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court asked prison officials to check whether priest Abraham has appointed a lawyer to challenge his death sentence.
The court directed the prison administration to report its findings on October 16.
Abraham appeared by video from prison and said a lawyer had taken his signature, but he was unsure whether the lawyer would represent him.
He was sentenced to death in a case involving the sexual assault of four girls in Tirunelveli district.
Abraham denied assaulting the girls and alleged that police beat him while he was in custody.
- Who
- Priest Abraham, the prison administration and a bench of the Madras High Court.
- What
- The court asked officials to check prison records to determine whether Abraham has a lawyer for an appeal against his death sentence.
- When
- The court issued the direction on October 13, 2026, and ordered a report by October 16.
- Where
- The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court; Abraham appeared by video from Tirunelveli Central Prison.
- Why
- The court was checking whether Abraham had legal representation to challenge his sentence.
Prosecution and court
Abraham
Alleged crime
Prosecution and court
The trial court found the charges concerning the sexual assault of four girls proved and sentenced Abraham to death.
Abraham
Abraham said he had not sexually assaulted the girls.
Police conduct
Prosecution and court
Police arrested and investigated Abraham in the case.
Abraham
Abraham alleged that police detained and beat him in a coconut grove for two days.
The alleged assaults took place, according to the reports.
A special POCSO court in Tirunelveli sentenced Abraham to death; the reports give different dates.
The Madurai Bench adjourned the petition seeking confirmation of the death sentence to October 16.
Abraham appeared by video before the Madurai Bench, which asked prison officials to check whether he had a lawyer.
Prison officials were ordered to report whether Abraham had appointed a lawyer.
- Accused
- Abraham, a Christian priest and preacher
- People affected
- Four girls, including three from the same family
- Court
- Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court
- Prison
- Tirunelveli Central Prison
- Next report date
- October 16, 2026
- Compensation ordered
- ₹10 lakh for each of the four girls
What people are saying
A lawyer said he would appear and took my signature on a vakalat.
I did not sexually assault the girls. They beat me in the garden.
Do you intend to file an appeal against the sentence, have you appointed a lawyer to appear for you, or should we direct that a lawyer be appointed through the free legal aid centre?
Sources
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