KOCHI:The state government on Monday approached the High Court seeking to cancel the bail granted to two police officers, who were arrested for taking a bribe from the accused in the abduction and death of Kevin Joseph. The government submitted that custodial interrogation of the duo was necessary.The Ettumanoor Judicial First Class Magistrate Court had granted bail to the cops.
The two officers — ASI T M Biju and police driver M N Ajayakumar — booked for offence under section 384 (Extortion) of IPC and section 115 (Bribe-taking and extortion by a police officer) of Kerala Police Act. According to the state government, the magistrate dismissed the custody application and granted bail finding that there was no sufficient material to grand custody application.“Irrelevant aspect has been taken into consideration and the order has been passed without even examining the case diary. Hence the order granting bail should be set aside,” the state submitted.
According to the prosecution, the officers belonging to the Gandhinagar police station were on patrol duty when they intercepted a car at around 2.30 am on May 26. The duo threatened the persons inside the car that the will be booked for some offences and demanded money for letting them free. They extorted `2,000 from Syanu, brother of Kevin’s wife Neenu.
State submitted that the bribe amount has yet not been recovered from the accused there was a need to question other witnesses.The release of accused on bail will adversely affect the investigation and since they are police officers, them influencing or threatening the witnesses in the case, state said.
The court issued a notice to the policemen.
Kevin’s family will be protected, says Kodiyeri
Kottayam: In what appears to be a major relief for the family of Kevin P Joseph, who was abducted and later found dead under mysterious circumstances, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the party and the government will take steps to provide a house for Kevin’s family and a job for his fiancee Neenu Chacko. Kodiyeri added the CPM will also ensure the protection of Kevin’s family. “The state government will be asked to take steps to provide support to the family. As part of the efforts, the steps have already been taken to build a house for them. At the same time, Neenu will get a job for leading a better life,” he said.
Formation of Rural Tiger Force illegal, says state
Kochi: The state government on Monday submitted before the High Court that the formation of Rural Tiger Force (RTF) was illegal. Three members of the RTF are accused in the death of Sreejith of Varapuzha following alleged custodial torture. The state also said RTF members had no authority to arrest Sreejith. They have assaulted Sreejith. Mother, wife and neighbours are witnesses to the assault, the state submitted. Opposing the bail plea of the cops — Santhosh Kumar, Jithin Raj and M S Sumesh — senior government pleader Suman Chakravarthy submitted that the assault by the RTF personnel ca not be justified since Sreejith died in police custody. It is an offence that come under section 302 of IPC. Besides, Sreejith had told the doctor, who examined him, that policemen in plain clothes assaulted him and this was in fact a dying declaration.