Sulaiman and Hajara v. State of Kerala
Case Details & Bench
- Court
- High Court of Kerala
- Hon'ble Judges
- A. Badharudeen
- Judgment Date
- 2022-05-10
- Court Decision / Holding
- Anticipatory bail granted to the petitioners with conditions: surrender before the Investigating Officer on or before 20.05.2022 between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.; upon surrender the officer may interrogate and, if arrested, the petitioners must be produced before the jurisdictional Magistrate; the Magistrate shall release on bail on bonds of Rs.50,000 each with two solvent sureties; the petitioners must cooperate with the investigation and comply with Covid-19 restrictions; not to disobey orders or commit any crime during the bail period; violation may lead to cancellation of bail.
- Final Disposition
- Anticipatory bail granted to the applicants with specified conditions.
Parties to the Case
Appellants / Petitioners
- Sulaiman
- Hajara
Respondents
- State of Kerala represented by Public Prosecutor
Legal Representation & Advocates
Counsels for Petitioners
- • V. A. Johnson (Varikkappallil)
Counsels for Respondents
- • Public Prosecutor
- • Smt Sreeja V - Sr P.P
Case Synopsis & Summary
This bail application under section 438 Cr.P.C. is filed by Sulaiman and Hajara, husband and wife, accused in Crime No. 206/2022 at Pazhayannur Police Station, Thirissur. The prosecution charges them with offences under sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 read with 34 IPC, and section 31(1) of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, the latter being a non-bailable offence. The alleged incident occurred on 10.04.2022 at about 19:30 hours, when the first accused allegedly disobeyed a protection order issued by the Magistrate under the PWDV Act, thereby committing Section 31(1) of the Act. The case appears to hinge on a matrimonial dispute between the parties. The petitioners’ counsel contends their innocence and asserts they were unaware of the interim ex parte order, arguing that any violation was not willful, and they offer full cooperation with the investigation, seeking anticipatory bail. The Public Prosecutor opposes bail, contending that the accused willfully violated the protection order and require arrest and custodial interrogation. The court notes the matrimonial dispute and underlying rivalry, yet observes that investigation can proceed without arrest. It grants anticipatory bail with conditions: surrender to the investigating officer by 20.05.2022 between 9 and 11 a.m.; on surrender the officer may interrogate, and if arrested, they must be produced before the jurisdictional magistrate; bonds of Rs 50,000 with two solvent sureties; compliance with Covid restrictions; cooperation with the investigation; and a prohibition on disobeying orders or committing new crimes, with bail liable to cancellation on violation.
Provisions of Law Cited
Submissions & Arguments
Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners
The petitioners submitted that they are innocent and unaware of the interim ex parte order; they contend there was no willful disobedience of the order and offer cooperation in the investigation, pressing for anticipatory bail to avoid arrest and custodial interrogation.
Contentions of Respondents
The Public Prosecutor opposed bail, contending that the petitioners willfully violated the protection order under the PWDV Act and that arrest and custodial interrogation are necessary for fair investigation; the disputes between the parties reflect matrimonial tensions that require cautious handling.
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