BiJoy K.P v. State of Kerala
Case Details & Bench
- Court
- High Court of Kerala
- Hon'ble Judges
- C.S. Dias
- Judgment Date
- 2024-01-05
- Court Decision / Holding
- The application is allowed; the petitioner is to be released on bail on furnishing a bond for Rs.1,00,000 with two solvent sureties for the same amount, subject to conditions including appearance before the Investigating Officer on Saturdays for a month and then alternate Saturdays, no inducement or tampering with witnesses, no commission of offences, restricted entry to Manimala Police Station jurisdiction, surrender of passport, providing present and permanent addresses and mobile number, and the court’s power to cancel bail for violations; the Investigating Officer may investigate and recoveries can be made even while on bail, per Sushila Aggarwal.
- Final Disposition
- Bail granted to the applicant; release on bail with conditions.
Parties to the Case
Appellants / Petitioners
- BiJoy K.P
Respondents
- State of Kerala represented by Public Prosecutor, High Court of Kerala, PIN - 682031
Legal Representation & Advocates
Counsels for Petitioners
- • M. Rishikesh Shenoy
- • Ann Mary.V.I
- • Abraham Mathan
Counsels for Respondents
- • Smt. Neema T.V.
- • Public Prosecutor, High Court of Kerala
Case Synopsis & Summary
BiJoy K.P., the sixth accused in Crime No.1224/2023 of Manimala Police Station, Kottayam, petitions under Section 439 CrPC for bail. The offences alleged include sections of the Indian Penal Code (294(b), 323, 324, 325, 326, 308, 341, 427, 143, 144, 147, 148, 149) read with Section 27 of the Arms Act. The petitioner, aged 38, was arrested on 4 December 2023 and has remained in custody since then. The prosecution's case asserts that on 30 November 2023, six accused formed an unlawful assembly, blocked the complainant’s car, and assaulted the complainant and his wife; the first two accused allegedly struck the complainant and his wife, others hurled obscene words and damaged the vehicle, with threats included. The investigation reportedly is nearly complete, though the other accused were arrested only today. The applicant’s counsel contends there is no overt act attributable to him and that there is delay in lodging the FIR; he asserts innocence and urges bail. The Public Prosecutor counters that specific allegations exist against the petitioner regarding vehicle damage, and the investigation remains ongoing, so bail at this stage would impair the investigation. The court, noting the petitioner’s custody since 4.12.2023 and the absence of an overt act against him, grants bail subject to stringent conditions, including a Rs.1,00,000 bond with two sureties, regular appearance, non-tampering with witnesses, travel restrictions within the police station’s jurisdiction, passport surrender, address disclosure, and bail cancellation for violations. The order cites Sushila Aggarwal for permissible police actions while on bail.
Provisions of Law Cited
Legal Doctrines & Maxims
- Sushila Aggarwal v. State of Delhi and another, 2020 (1) KHC 663 – bail conditions and exercise of power under bail regime
Submissions & Arguments
Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners
The petitioner contends he is entirely innocent of the accusations. Even per Annexure-1 FIR, the incident occurred on 30.11.2023 and the FIR was lodged only on 02.12.2023. He has been in judicial custody since 04.12.2023 and the investigation is practically complete. There is no overt act alleged against him and hence he should be released on bail on reasonable conditions.
Contentions of Respondents
The Public Prosecutor argues there is a specific allegation that the petitioner caused damage to the vehicle, the investigation is still in progress, and other accused were arrested only today; releasing him on bail would hamper the investigation.
Cited Precedents (1)
| Case Name | Citation | Treatment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sushila Aggarwal v. State of Delhi and another | 2020 (1) KHC 663 | Positive | Cited as authority for bail conditions and for allowing police recoveries while a person is on bail. |
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