Kochi: As many as 224 people, accused in sexual offence cases, were released on bail from various prisons in the state in April, according to a report DGP (Prisons) submitted to the team probing the Jisha murder case.
Investigators had sought the details of alleged sex offenders released from prisons between April 1 and 30. The report was sought to verify if any of them was involved in the brutal murder.
The released offenders included under trials and those sentenced by lower courts. Among them19 have roots in Ernakulam district, and eight of the offenders were lodged in the district jail and remaining were imprisoned in other seven prisons in the state.
A few Ernakulam-based migrants, too, were released in April.
Of the seven freed from the Central Prison in Kannur on Saturday, three have been serving the sentence handed down to them.
People involved in sex offences were not awarded parole in April since the poll code of conduct was in place.
The jail DGP provided the report on police chief T. P. Senkumar’s instruction. The chief had sought information on whether anyone charged under IPC 376 (punishment for rape) were released in April.
Senkumar had also directed the police to compare the sketch of the suspect prepared with those freed from jails. After comparison, the investigation team has handed over the names of suspects to the jurisdictional police concerned.