Ratheesh @Kannan And Ors vs State Of Kerala

This Bail Application filed under Section 438 of Criminal Procedure Code (Cr.P.C.) was heard through Video Conference.

Petitioners are the accused in Crime No.293/2021 of Kattakada Police Station. The above case is registered against the petitioners alleging

offences punishable under Sections 294(b), 354A, 354B, 447 r/w Section 34 of IPC.

The Prosecution case is that on 28.1.2021, the petitioners who are neighbours of the defacto complainant verbally abused the defacto complainant.

It is further alleged that first accused attempted to assault the defacto complainant leading to tearing of the nighty worn by her. Hence it is alleged that

the petitioners committed the offences.

Heard counsel for the petitioners and the Public Prosecutor. The counsel submitted that even if the entire allegations are accepted, the offences

alleged are not prima facie made out. The counsel submitted that the alleged incident happened on 28.1.2021 and the FIR is lodged only on 5.2.2021.

The counsel submitted that the petitioners are ready to abide any conditions if this Court grant them bail.

It is true that there is some delay in lodging the FIR. But it is a matter to be investigated by the investigating officer in accordance to law. I don't

want to make any observation on the merit of the case. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, I think this bail application can be

allowed on stringent conditions.

Moreover, the 2nd wave of COVID-19 is spreading in the country and the citizens are facing serious difficulties. In the state of Kerala, the 2nd

wave of the pandemic is creating lot of problems and even the day-to-day life of the citizens are affected. Everyday, about 25,000 people are tested

positive with COVID-19. In such circumstances, this Court has to consider this fact also while considering bail applications. The life is more important

than anything. Therefore, I am considering this bail application based on the above pandemic situation.

Moreover, considering the need to follow social distancing norms inside prisons so as to avert the spread of the novel Corona Virus Pandemic, the

Hon'ble Supreme Court in Re: Contagion of COVID-19 Virus In Prisons case (Suo Motu Writ Petition(C) No.1 of 2020) and a Full Bench of this

Court in W.P(C)No.9400 of 2020 issued various salutary directions for minimizing the number of inmates inside prisons. These happened during the

1st wave of COVID-19 season.

Moreover, it is a well accepted principle that, the bail is the rule and the jail is the exception. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in Chidambaram P. v.

Directorate of Enforcement (2019 (16) SCALE 870), after considering all the earlier judgments, observed that, the basic jurisprudence relating to bail

remains the same inasmuch as the grant of bail is the rule and refusal is the exception so as to ensure that, the accused has the opportunity of securing

fair trial.

Considering the dictum laid down in the above decision and considering the facts and circumstances of this case, this Bail Application is allowed

with the following directions:

The petitioners shall appear before the Investigating Officer within ten days from today and shall undergo interrogation;

After interrogation, if the Investigating Officer proposes to arrest the petitioners, they shall be released on bail executing a bond for a sum of

Rs.50,000/-(Rupees Fifty Thousand only) each with two solvent sureties each for the like sum to the satisfaction of the officer concerned;

The petitioners shall appear before the Investigating Officer for interrogation as and when required. The petitioners shall co-operate with the

investigation and shall not, directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to

dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer;

The petitioners shall not leave India without permission of the Court;

The petitioners shall not commit an offence similar to the offence of which they are accused, or suspected, of the commission of which they are

suspected;

The petitioners shall strictly abide by the various guidelines issued by the State Government and Central Government with respect to keeping of

social distancing in the wake of Covid 19 pandemic;

If any of the above conditions are violated by the petitioners, the jurisdictional Court can cancel the bail in accordance to law, even though the bail is

granted by this Court.