Rajesh and others v. State of Kerala
Case Details & Bench
- Court
- High Court of Kerala
- Hon'ble Judges
- C. S. Dias
- Judgment Date
- 2024-01-24
- Court Decision / Holding
- The bail application is allowed; the petitioners Rajesh, Dasaradhan, and Aneesh are directed to be released on bail on bonds of Rs.50,000 each with two solvent sureties of like amount. Conditions include: (i) appearance before the Investigating Officer every Saturday for two months or until final report, (ii) not to induce or procure witnesses or tamper with evidence, (iii) to not commit any offence while on bail, (iv) surrender of passport if any, (v) compliance with consequences for breach, (vi) applications for modification of bail to be moved before the appropriate court, and (vii) enabling IO to investigate and effect recoveries even on bail as per the Supreme Court’s guidance in Sushila Aggarwal (2020) 1 KHC 663.
- Final Disposition
- Bail granted to petitioners on stringent conditions
Parties to the Case
Appellants / Petitioners
- Rajesh
- Dasaradhan
- Aneesh
Respondents
- State of Kerala represented by Public Prosecutor, High Court of Kerala
- Station House Officer, Mulanthuruthy Police Station, Ernakulam Rural District, Mulanthuruthy P.O., Ernakulam District
Legal Representation & Advocates
Counsels for Petitioners
- • Adv John T. Paul
Counsels for Respondents
- • Sri C S Hrithwik
Case Synopsis & Summary
This is a bail application under Section 439 CrPC by three accused—Rajesh, Dasaradhan and Aneesh—in Crime No.1074/2023 of Mulantthuruthy Police Station, Ernakulam, seeking bail during trial for offences including attempt to murder (Section 307 IPC) along with Sections 323, 324, 341, 294(b), 506(i) and 34 IPC. The petitioners were arrested on 25.12.2023; petitioner 2 was remanded on 1.1.2024 due to treatment. The prosecution’s case is that, around 9:30 p.m. on 25.12.2023, the accused, in their common intent, attempted to murder the husband of the de facto complainant and his brother with a chopper, causing injuries. The petitioners contend innocence and false implication, asserting investigation is practically complete and further detention is unnecessary. The Public Prosecutor opposes bail, noting ongoing investigation and presenting an Accident Register-cum-Wound Certificate of an injured person indicating minor injuries, while also noting the first accused’s criminal antecedents. On consideration, the court notes that the petitioners have been in custody since 25.12.2023, the investigation is practically complete, and recoveries have been effected. Accordingly, the court allows bail subject to stringent conditions including bond of Rs.50,000 per accused with two sureties, regular appearances, no inducement or tampering with evidence, surrender of passport, and compliance with recoveries as permitted by the Supreme Court in Sushila Aggarwal v. State (NCT of Delhi). The order thereby grants bail with safeguards to ensure integrity of the investigation.
Provisions of Law Cited
Submissions & Arguments
Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners
The petitioners contend innocence and false implication, arguing that their arrest on 25.12.2023 was followed by a period of detention despite near completion of investigation; they emphasize lack of ongoing threat and submit that continuing detention is unnecessary, seeking enlarged liberty on bail.
Contentions of Respondents
The State/opposing counsel submits that investigation is still in progress and that bail should be refused or conditioned; they refer to the injuries and the serious nature of the offences, including an alleged attempt to murder, and present the accident certificate and the accused’s antecedents as grounds for cautious handling of bail.
Cited Precedents (1)
| Case Name | Citation | Treatment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sushila Aggarwal v. State (NCT of Delhi) and another | 2020 (1) KHC 663 | Positive | Cited to justify that investigations and recoveries may be pursued by the Investigating Officer even while the accused remain on bail, reflecting compliance with Supreme Court guidance. |
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