Veena George Assault Case: Kerala High Court Seeks State's Stand On Plea By Accused For Supervised Investigation By Senior Police Officer

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (March 26) sought the State's stand on the plea by the 1st accused seeking supervised investigation by a senior police official to look into the alleged assault on Health Minister Veena George at Kannur Railway Station.When the matter came up for consideration today, Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath granted time to the prosecutor to take instructions and posted it after summer vacation.The prosecution allegation is that on February 25, 2026 at about 3:15 p.m., when the Minister arrived at Kannur Railway Station to board Vande Bharat express to Thiruvananthapuram, the accused persons trespassed into the railway premises, showed black flags, raised slogans and allegedly attempted to attack her and obstruct her from performing official duties.A crime was registered by the Kannur Railway Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 189(2) [Unlawful assembly], 191(2) [Rioting], 126(2) [Wrongful restraint], 115(2) [Voluntarily causing hurt], 121(1) [Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty], 118(1) [Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means], 109(1) [Attempt to murder], 190 [common intention] and 191(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 147 and 145 of the Indian Railways Act, 1989.The accused was thereafter arrested on the same day and underwent custody till March 12 before being granted bail by the Sessions Court, Thalassery.According to the petitioner, the allegations in the FIR are completely exaggerated and false. It is pointed out that the afore incident occurred in a highly secured public place and under extensive police presence, CCTV surveillance and media coverage. It is further stated that in the multiple video footages taken on the day, it is clearly visible that the accused was standing outside the entrance/portico area and was protesting by raising slogans and showing black flags.The plea also states that is is evident that the Minister was surrounded by security personnel consisting of police officials and security staff at all times and they had formed a protective ring around her upon her arrival.The petitioner has further stated that there was a delay of around 7 hours in registering the FIR and the same would show the mala fide intention of the defacto complainant and the victim to formulate a false case, incorporating non-bailable offences."At no point of time the videos published in the social media platform discloses any weapon in the hands of the accused persons, or any physical contact capable of causing death or grievous injury. The allegation stating that the accused jumped upon the Minister and attacked her neck is not borne out by any visible material in the footage...It is further submitted that the protest in question was allegedly directed against the issues concerning the functioning of the Health Department. Instead of treating the incident as a political protest, the same has been magnified and projected as a life-threatening attack and in order to make the offences as non bailable, graver offences has been incorporated without any base," states the plea.The petitioner further states that no weapons were recovered by the police from the scene of occurrence and the action of the State in registering serious non-bailable offences without sufficient materials violates the accused's fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.Thereafter, it is stated that there is no proper or fair investigation in the case, necessitating interference of the High Court. They have thus prayed that a writ of mandamus be issued directing the State Police Chief to entrust the investigation in the crime to a superior police officer, not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police. The matter is posted for consideration on May 19.The petition is moved by Advocates Feroze D., Abid Ali K.A., Janet Varghese and Adarsh A.Case No: WP(Crl.) 548/2026Case Title: Athul M.C. v. State of Kerala and Ors.

Veena George Assault Case: Kerala High Court Seeks State's Stand On Plea By Accused For Supervised Investigation By Senior Police Officer

K. Salma Jennath

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