KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Friday directed writer Santhosh Echikkanam, accused in a case relating to alleged casteist remarks, to surrender before the investigating officer and to undergo interrogation.The court issued the order while disposing of the petition filed by Santhosh Echikkanam.
The Hosudurg police had registered a case under several sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act based a complaint by a person named Balakrishnan.
The complainant alleged Echikkanam lowered his and his family’s dignity in public. Echikkanam submitted the remarks were not intended to cause any racial prejudice. He had only pointed out certain wrong notions among some SC/ST members and it was intended only as a fair comment, he stated.
The court said his custodial interrogation was not needed and directed the police to produce him before the Magistrate court, which shall consider his bail application and pass an appropriate order on the same day of production. The court made it clear the direction for surrender was for the limited purpose of interrogation.
HC’s directive
HC said Santhosh’s custodial interrogation was not needed. It directed the police to produce him before the Magistrate court, which shall consider his bail application the same day