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Stoking controversy, a former Kerala high court judge on Saturday defended his judgment acquitting 35 accused in the Suryanelli gangrape case, in which Rajya Sabha deputy chairman PJ Kurien was allegedly involved, saying the victim was used in child prostitution and not raped.

“There was ample evidence to show the girl was used for child prostitution, which is not rape,” Justice R Basant, part of a two-judge bench that acquitted the accused in 2005, was shown as saying on a Malayalam TV channel.