Kerala High Court Grants Bail To Students Accused Of Obstructing Governor Arif Khan's Convoy
The Kerala High Court has granted bail to 7 students who were accused of obstructing Governor Arif Khan's convoy.A single judge bench of Justice CS Dias heard the matter today. The incident occurred on December 11th, 2023, when the governor's convoy was impeded in Palayam by the accused who disobeyed orders of the police, and detained the Governor whilst shouting slogans, thereby causing a...
The Kerala High Court has granted bail to 7 students who were accused of obstructing Governor Arif Khan's convoy.
A single judge bench of Justice CS Dias heard the matter today.
The incident occurred on December 11th, 2023, when the governor's convoy was impeded in Palayam by the accused who disobeyed orders of the police, and detained the Governor whilst shouting slogans, thereby causing a loss of Rs. 76, 357/- to the public exchequer.
The accused were charged under Sections 124, 143, 147, 149, 283 and 353 of the IPC and Section 3(2)(e) of the Prevention of Damages to Public Property Act. They have been in judicial custody since 11.12.2023.
The counsel for the petitioners argued that the offence under Section 124 of the Act will not be attracted in this matter and has been deliberately incorporated to harass the petitioners. Additionally, it was argued that the petitioners were students who have no criminal antecedents and were willing to cooperate with the investigation.
Section 124 relates to the penalty imposed for assaulting the President, Governor, etc with the intent to compel or restrain the exercise of any lawful power.
The prosecutor opposed the application by stressing that some of the accused were still at large, and the petitioners had committed “heinous offences waylaying the Executive Head of the State.”
The bench referred to the promising future of the petitioners from the interactions they had had with both the petitioners and their parents, thus allowing them to be released on bail.
The court further laid down that the petitioners were expected to attend their classes regularly and undergo counseling.
Accordingly, it directed the petitioners to be released on bail after executing a bond of Rs. 25,000/- each with one of their parents as surety.
Counsel for Petitioner: Advocates KK Dheerendrakrishnan and NP Asha
Counsel for Respondent: Advocates Neema TV, Seetha S and CS Hrithwik
Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Ker) 34
Case Title: Yadhu Krishnan and ors. v. State of Kerala
Case Number: Bail Application No. 11257 of 2023.