Plea filed to cancel bail of 2 accused in ED attack case after Onam reel row at Museum station
A prosecutor has sought to cancel bail for two accused who allegedly violated conditions by filming celebrations outside a police station, prompting an inquiry.
A prosecutor has sought to cancel bail for two accused who allegedly violated conditions by filming celebrations outside a police station, prompting an inquiry.
A prosecutor has sought to cancel bail for two accused who allegedly violated conditions by filming celebrations outside a police station, prompting an inquiry.
The Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) has filed a petition in the Thiruvananthapuram Judicial First Class Magistrate Court - 3, seeking cancellation of bail of two accused in the case related to the attack on ED officials. SPP A Santosh Kumar moved the court after the first accused, Nithinraj, and the 16th accused, I P Binu, got embroiled in a row after taking part in Onam celebrations in front of the Museum police station.
I P Binu and others, dressed up in uniform colours, shot reels of the celebrations, which were widely circulated online, prompting a high-level police inquiry. The probe centres on how the accused in a prominent case were allowed to take part in celebrations and shoot videos on the station premises.
The petition was moved on Monday, citing that Binu and Nithinraj violated the bail conditions. The High Court had mandated nine conditions to grant them bail. One of the conditions was that they shall not enter into the jurisdictional limits of the Sub Divisional Assistant Commissioner of Police, Cantonment Police Station, Thiruvananthapuram until further orders.
Another condition was that they shall not attempt to contact any of the prosecution witnesses, directly or through any other person, or in any other way try to tamper with the evidence or influence any witnesses or other persons related to the investigation. Santosh Kumar told Onmanorama that by nonchalantly shooting videos of celebrations in front of the police station and then circulating it online, the accused tried to flaunt their influence on the cops. "This could also cause apprehension among the witnesses. They are not supposed to enter the seven police stations under the Cantonment sub-division until further orders, except to put their signature as per the HC order. The violation of two conditions has allowed the government to invoke the final condition," said Santosh Kumar.
The court has ruled that application, if any, for deletion/modification of the bail conditions or cancellation of bail on the grounds of violating the bail conditions shall be filed at the jurisdictional court.
The case pertains to the alleged assault on ED officials and police personnel during a raid at the residence of Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan on May 27. The ED was conducting searches in connection with a money laundering probe linked to CMRL involving Vijayan's daughter, Veena T. Following the incident, the police booked around 300 identifiable persons, alleging that they had formed an unlawful assembly armed with deadly weapons. A total of 24 persons were arrested in connection with the case.