Full Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN FRIDAY, THE 11TH DAY OF APRIL 2025 / 21ST CHAITHRA, 1947 BAIL APPL. NO. 4314 OF 2025 CRIME NO.962/2024 OF WALAYAR POLICE STATION, PALAKKAD PETITIONER(S)/11TH ACCUSED: RANJITH AGED 40 YEARS S/O RAJAMANI, THIRUVONAPURAM HOUSE, PALAYAMKADU, OLASSERY P.O, PALAKKAD, PIN - 678531 BY ADVS. V.A.VINOD SUHAIL M. RESPONDENT(S)/STATE: 1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682031 2 STATION HOUSE OFFICER WALAYAR POLICE STATION, PALAKKAD, PIN - 678620 BY ADV. SRI. G SUDHEER, PP THIS BAIL APPLICATION HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 11.04.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN, J -------------------------------- ------------------------------- Dated this the 11th day of April, 2025
ORDER
This Bail application is filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
2. Petitioner is an accused in Crime No.962/2024 of
Walayar Police Station, Palakkad. The above case is registered against the petitioner alleging offences punishable under Sections 111(1), 112(2)(b), 111(3), 111(4), 111(6), 127(7), 140(1), 310(1), 310(2), 311, 318(1), 318(2), 109 & 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short 'BNS').
3. The prosecution case is that, between 04.12.2024
and 05.12.2024, accused Nos.1 to 9, being members of a criminal gang, kidnapped the defacto complainant and his friend Thomas Jacob from their house. They were taken to the terrace of the first accused's house, where their hands and legs were tied with ropes and cloth was stuffed into their mouths. The accused demanded a ransom of ₹10,00,000/- threatening to kill them if the money was
not paid. Thomas Jacob was forced to transfer 76,500/- via Google pay and hand over a diamond ring under threat. Hence it is alleged that the accused committed the above mentioned offences.
4. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Public Prosecutor. Learned Public Prosecutor seriously opposed the bail application.
5. After hearing both sides, I think this is not a fit case, in which orders u/s.482 BNSS can be passed. At this stage the counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner will
surrender before the Investigating Officer. The counsel also submitted that there may be a direction to produce the petitioner after interrogation before the jurisdictional court and there may be a direction to the jurisdictional court to consider the bail application on the date of production of the petitioner. I think that prayer can be allowed.
6. Considering the submission of the counsel for the
petitioner, this bail application is disposed of with the following directions. 1) The petitioner will surrender before the Investigating Officer within two weeks from today.
2) If the petitioner surrender before the Investigating Officer as directed above, the Investigating Officer is free to interrogate the petitioner and shall produce the petitioner before the jurisdictional court on the date of surrender itself. 3) The petitioner is free to file a bail application before the jurisdictional court at the time of producing him before the jurisdictional court. If such a bail application is filed with advance copy to the prosecutor concerned, the jurisdictional court will consider that bail application in accordance with law and pass appropriate orders in it preferably on the date of filing of the same itself. 4) The Investigating Officer is free to file custody application, if necessary, at the time of producing the petitioner and if such an application is filed, the jurisdictional court is free to pass appropriate orders in it also.
Sd/- P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN, JUDGE DM