Murdered rector's family moves court

They appealed the high court to transfer the investigation to the country's top investigating agency, the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI).

Bangalore:  Frustrated at the slow progress of the investigation, the family of the murdered rector Father K. J Thomas has approached the Karnataka High Court, seeking a high level probe.

They appealed the high court to transfer the investigation to the country's top investigating agency, the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI).

"The court took up the case last Thursday and issued a notice seeking the state’s response to the petition," said Siji Malayil, the family’s lawyer.

He said the court will now wait for the state to submit a progress report on the investigation before deciding if the case should go to the CBI.

The family's move comes as police conducted truth serum tests on two more Catholic priests from St. Peter's Pontifical seminary in Bangalore, where Father Thomas was rector.

The results of the test will "take another 15-20 days" to reach stste police, according to Pranab Mohanty, Additional Director of Crimes in Karnataka.

He said investigators have several theories as to why the 63 year old priest was bludgeoned to death on the night of March 31 and April 1 last year.

Police believe Fr Thomas knew his killer and was attacked when he answered a knock on his bedroom door.

In July the seminary procurator Fr Patrick Xavier was named as a suspect and underwent the same test.