A Kerala court on Thursday (November 5) refused to cancel the bail granted to the minor accused in the Kochi Mercedes Benz Accident case that occurred near Cheranalloor on October 25.
Smt. Kavitha Gangadharan, Additional Sessions Judge (Ernakulam) dismissed the pleas preferred by the State and the victim's family challenging the order of the Juvenile Justice Board, Ernakulam.
The court had reserved its verdict in the pleas after hearing the parties in an in-camera proceeding.
According to the FIR registered by the Cheranalloor Police, the car driven by the 17-year-old rammed into the scooter ridden by 55-year-old street food vendor Jayabalakrishnan at around 2:00 am 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. Challenging the JJB order, the State as well as the victim's family members preferred separate appeals.
Last week, the court had orally expressed 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).
On Monday, the court also directed the parties not to make any public statements or interviews that may prejudice the ongoing investigation or reveal the identity of the CCL.
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 granted interim protection from arrest to the accused judicial officer.
Counsel for the CCL: John S. Ralph