Twenty20 Worker's Murder: Kerala High Court Allows Father's Plea To Transfer Case From Ernakulam Sessions Court

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday allowed the plea moved by the father of a deceased Twenty20 worker, C.K. Deepu seeking to transfer the bail applications moved by the accused from the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court. 

Justice Mary Joseph thereby directed that the case be transferred to the Sessions Court in Thrissur. 

Deepu was brutally attacked reportedly by a group of CPM workers for participating in a protest organised by political party Twenty20 against the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) for opposing its streetlight challenge to replace old street lamps with new ones. Deepu died despite getting timely treatment and the accused were soon arrested and charged for causing grievous hurt to the deceased with an intention to kill him. 

The accused CPM workers had consequently approached the Ernakulam Sessions Court seeking bail in the matter. This matter was due to come up on March 15.

Meanwhile, Alleging that the sessions judge appeared to be evidently biased, the worker's father moved the Court through Advocate Blaze K Jose. The counsel argued that the Judge paid no heed to his contentions and proceeded to hold that there was no need for investigation officers to produce a copy of any of the documents.

It was also contended that the prosecution was colluding with the accused from the very start of the trial and that the victim was prevented from effectively appearing in the case.

The petitioner argued that he learned from reliable sources that the father of the sessions judge is the district secretary of the CPI(M) in Thrissur and an interested party in the case.

"The accused are CPI(M) activists and the case registered is also a murder out of political vengeance. The counsel appearing for the accused is also the district secretary of the DYFI, the youth wing of CPI(M)," it was contended. 

On these grounds, the father moved the petition fearing that he might not get a fair hearing before the said sessions court.

When the matter came up for consideration on Monday, the High Court had directed the Ernakulam Sessions Court not to hear the bail applications filed by the accused on March 15. The Court had clarified that the bail applications should be considered only after orders were passed on the petition pending before it. 

Case Title: C.C Kunjaru v. State of Kerala

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