Click the Play button to listen to article

A Kerala court has decided to hold in-camera proceedings while considering pleas challenging the bail granted to the minor accused in the Kochi Mercedes Benz crash.

Smt. Kavitha Gangadharan, Addl. District Judge (Ernakulam) was hearing the appeals preferred by the State and the victim's family seeking cancellation of the bail granted to the 17-year-old by the Juvenile Justice Board, Ernakulam.

The court orally said that it is better to hold the proceedings in-camera since the case involves a Child in Conflict with Law (CCL).

According to the FIR registered by the Cheranalloor Police, the car rammed into the scooter ridden by 55-year-old street food vendor Jayabalakrishnan at around 2:00 am on Sunday (October 25) while he was returning home.

The crime was registered incorporating offences under Section 106 BNS initially and the minor was released on custody bail. Subsequently, the police included Section 105 BNS [culpable homicide not amounting to murder] and produced the minor before the JJB, which released him on bail.

The police has also booked the minor's father and registered owner of the car, who is a sitting District Judge. The Kerala High Court had ordered interim protection from arrest to the accused judicial officer.

While hearing the pleas, the court had asked the State as well as the victim's family members to make modifications in their pleas so as not to reveal the name and details of the CCL.

On Saturday, the court had orally remarked that it has serious doubts regarding the manner in which the investigation is being carried and had also questioned why the cyber police had not taken any action against social media accounts that revealed the identity of the CCL in contravention of the Juvenile Justice Act. It had then passed an order directing the cyber police to submit an action taken report on the actions taken against such posts and accounts. It had also directed the investigating officer to appear before it and produce the case diary (CD).

Tags: