JAYADEVAKRISHNAN v. STATE OF KERALA

B.A.No.5154 of 2025 1 2025:KER:31272 **==> picture [57 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN** **THURSDAY, THE 10[TH] DAY OF APRIL 2025 / 20TH CHAITHRA, 1947** **BAIL APPL. NO. 5154 OF 2025** **CRIME NO.164/2025 OF Varandarappally Police Station,** ## **Thrissur** **AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT DATED 14.03.2025 IN CRMP NO.2792 OF 2025 OF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS, IRINJALAKUDA** **PETITIONER(S)/ACCUSED NO.1:** **JAYADEVAKRISHNAN AGED 37 YEARS S/O VISWAMBHARAN, VETTAYATTIL HOUSE, KALAVARAKKUNNU SIVAJI NAGAR DESOM, VARANDARAPILLY VILLAGE, THRISSUR DISTRICT, PIN - 680303** **BY ADVS. RAPHAEL THEKKAN CHRISTINE MATHEW T.SAJI RAPHEL ABESH ALOSIOUS** ## **RESPONDENT(S)/STATE:** **STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF KERALA, PIN - 682031** **BY ADV. SRI G SUDHEER, PP** **THIS BAIL APPLICATION HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON** **10.04.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** B.A.No.5154 of 2025 2 2025:KER:31272 **==> picture [57 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** ## **P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN, J** -------------------------------- ## B.A.No.5154 of 2025 ------------------------------- Dated this the 10th day of April, 2025 ## **O R D E R** This Bail Application is filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. 2. Petitioner is an accused in Crime No.164/2025 of Varantharappilly Police Station, Thrissur. The above case is registered against the petitioner alleging offences punishable under Sections 126(2), 296(b), 351(2), 118(1), 118(2), 109(1) & 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short 'BNS'). 3. The prosecution case is that, due to the animosity that the defacto complainant is keeping friendship with a person who is in inimical terms with accused No.1, on 28.02.2025 at 8.30 PM, armed with sword stick, accused No.1 came to veluppadam kinar junction in the bike ridden by accused No.2 and in furtherance of common intention, to cause the death B.A.No.5154 of 2025 3 2025:KER:31272 **==> picture [57 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** of the defacto complainant, the first accused, uttering obscene words and threatening to kill him, hit him using the sword. When the first accused tried to hit the defacto complainant for the second time, the latter caught him while the accused stabbed him on the belly with the sword causing grievous injuries. Hence it is alleged that the accused committed the above said offences. 4. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Public Prosecutor. 5. Counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is in custody from 08.03.2025. The counsel submitted that the petitioner is ready to abide any conditions if this Court grant him bail. 6. The Public Prosecutor seriously opposed the bail application. The Public Prosecutor submitted that the allegation against the petitioner is very serious and he has criminal antecedents also. 7. This Court considered the contentions of the petitioner and the Public Prosecutor. It is true that the allegation against the petitioner is very serious and there is criminal B.A.No.5154 of 2025 4 2025:KER:31272 **==> picture [57 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** antecedents to the petitioner. But the fact remains that the petitioner is in custody from 08.03.2025. Indefinite incarceration of the petitioner is not necessary. But the injured is residing within the jurisdiction of Varantharappilly Police Station. Therefore, there can be a direction to the petitioner not to enter the jurisdictional limit of Varantharappilly Police Station for a period of one month. With that condition, bail can be granted. 8. Moreover, it is a well accepted principle that the bail is the rule and the jail is the exception. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in **Chidambaram. P v. Directorate of Enforcement [2019 (16) SCALE 870],** after considering all the earlier judgments, observed that, the basic jurisprudence relating to bail remains the same inasmuch as the grant of bail is the rule and refusal is the exception so as to ensure that the accused has the opportunity of securing fair trial. 9. Moreover, in **Jalaluddin Khan v. Union of India [2024 KHC 6431]** , the Hon'ble Supreme Court observed that: “21. Before we part with the Judgment, we must mention here that the Special Court and the High B.A.No.5154 of 2025 5 2025:KER:31272 **==> picture [57 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** Court did not consider the material in the charge sheet objectively. Perhaps the focus was more on the activities of PFI, and therefore, the appellant's case could not be properly appreciated. When a case is made out for a grant of bail, the Courts should not have any hesitation in granting bail. The allegations of the prosecution may be very serious. But, the duty of the Courts is to consider the case for grant of bail in accordance with the law. "Bail is the rule and jail is an exception" is a settled law. Even in a case like the present case where there are stringent conditions for the grant of bail in the relevant statutes, the same rule holds good with only modification that the bail can be granted if the conditions in the statute are satisfied. The rule also means that once a case is made out for the grant of bail, the Court cannot decline to grant bail. If the Courts start denying bail in deserving cases, it will be a violation of the rights guaranteed under Art.21 of our Constitution.” (underline supplied) ## 10. In **Manish Sisodia v. Directorate of** **Enforcement [2024 KHC 6426]** , also the Hon'ble Supreme Court observed that: “53. The Court further observed that, over a period of time, the trial courts and the High Courts have forgotten a very well - settled principle of law that B.A.No.5154 of 2025 6 2025:KER:31272 **==> picture [57 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** bail is not to be withheld as a punishment. From our experience, we can say that it appears that the trial courts and the High Courts attempt to play safe in matters of grant of bail. The principle that bail is a rule and refusal is an exception is, at times, followed in breach. On account of non - grant of bail even in straight forward open and shut cases, this Court is flooded with huge number of bail petitions thereby adding to the huge pendency. It is high time that the trial courts and the High Courts should recognize the principle that "bail is rule and jail is exception".” 11. Considering the dictum laid down in the above decision and considering the facts and circumstances of this case, this Bail Application is allowed with the following directions: 1. Petitioner shall be released on bail on executing a bond for Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One lakh only) with two solvent sureties each for the like sum to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court. 2. The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer for interrogation as and when required. The petitioner shall co-operate with the investigation and shall not, directly or B.A.No.5154 of 2025 7 2025:KER:31272 **==> picture [57 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer. 3. Petitioner shall not leave India without permission of the jurisdictional Court. 4. Petitioner shall not commit an offence similar to the offence of which he is accused, or suspected, of the commission of which he is suspected. 5. Petitioner shall not enter the jurisdictional limit of Varantharappilly Police Station for a period of one month. 6. The observations and findings in this order is only for the purpose of deciding this bail application. The principle laid down by this Court - in **Anzar Azeez v. State of Kerala** [2025 SCC OnLine KER 1260] is applicable in this case also. 7. If any of the above conditions are violated by the petitioner, the jurisdictional Court can cancel the B.A.No.5154 of 2025 8 2025:KER:31272 **==> picture [57 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** bail in accordance to law, even though the bail is granted by this Court. The prosecution and the victim are at liberty to approach the jurisdictional court to cancel the bail, if there is any violation of the above conditions. Sd/- ## **P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN, JUDGE** DM