Supreme Court Stays Release Of Koodathayi Murder Accused Jollyamma Joseph In Bail

The Supreme Court has stayed the release of Koodathayi Murder case accused Jollyamma Joseph, while granting leave in an SLP filed by State of Kerala against the High Court order which granted her bail.

"Leave granted. There shall be stay of release from custody of the respondent.", the order passed by the bench comprising Justices Mohan M. Shantanagoudar and Vineet Saran read.

Jolly Joseph, a native of Koodathayi village of northern Kerala, is accused of murder of six of her family members over a span of 17 years by administering them cyanide.

According to the prosecution, she acquired a prescription for the poisonous 'DOG KILL' from Government Veterinary Hospital at Kozhikokde in the name of 'Jolly Devagiri' and purchased the poison from the dealer named 'DYNAVET' at Kozhikode. Thereafter she mixed the poison in the soup, and Annamma Thomas consumed it on 22.8.2002 morning, and she died

While granting bail in this case, the High Court had noted that the prosecution case is based on the alleged extra judicial confession, which is made after 17 years of the alleged murder.  In a connected crime, the High Court had dismissed her bail plea. 

Justice PV Kunhikrishnan, while granting bail, had observed that the practice of leaking information on part of the investigating agencies as well as the media impinges upon the "fundamentals of criminal investigation". The court warned, that if above directions are violated either by the police officers or the media, stringent actions will be taken against them.

Click here to Read/Download Order

Read Order