Allowed

Chandran.P.K v. State of Kerala

Kerala HC9 Mar 2023Bail Appl./1215/2023

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The Kerala High Court granted pre-arrest bail to an elderly, 75-year-old accused charged with offences under the POCSO Act for alleged sexual harassment. The Court held that custodial interrogation was unnecessary due to the applicant's age, medical condition, and lack of specific allegations regarding sexual intent.

What did the court decide?

Application allowed; applicant released on bail on a bond of Lakh with two solvent sureties of similar amount, subject to conditions of cooperation, regular appearance, and non-interference with inves

Chandran.P.K Vs State of Kerala — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Kerala HC (2023)

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

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PRESENT

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THE HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE KAUSER EDAPPAGATH THURSDAY, THE 9^TH DAY OF MARCH 2023 / 18TH PHALGUNA, 1944 BAIL APPL. NO. 1215 OF 2023

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CRMP 191/2023 OF DISTRICT COURT & SESSIONS COURT,THRISSUR CRIME NO.14/2023 OF MALA POLICE STATION

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PETITIONER/ACCUSED:

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CHANDRAN.P.K AGED 75 YEARS S/O. KUTTAPPAN, PUTHENVELIKATTIL HOUSE, KAKKASSERIL VILLAGE, AIRANIKULAM.P.O., CHALAKKUDY TALUK, THRISSUR., PIN - 680734 BY ADVS. K.K.DHEERENDRAKRISHNAN N.P.ASHA

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RESPONDENT/STATE:

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STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF KERALA, PIN - 682031 SRI.M.P. PRASANTH, PUBLIC PROSECUTOR

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THIS BAIL APPLICATION HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 09.03.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

B.A.No.1215/2023

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ORDER

Dated this the 9^th day of March, 2023

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This application is filed u/s 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking pre-arrest bail.

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The applicant is the accused in Crime No.14/2023

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of Mala Police Station. The offences alleged are punishable under Section 354(1)(i) of the Indian Penal Code and Section

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12 read with 11 of the Protection of Children from Sexual

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Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

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The prosecution case, in short, is that on 03.01.2023 at 9 a.m., while the victim was waiting for bus at

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the bus shelter near the shop of the applicant, he asked the victim to lift her skirt and remove the shorts and thus

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committed sexual harassment.

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I have heard Sri. K.K. Dheerendrakrishnan, the learned counsel for the applicant and Sri. M.P. Prasanth, the learned Public Prosecutor. Perused the case diary.

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The learned counsel for the applicant submitted that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated

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B.A.No.1215/2023

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: 3 :

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in the present case. The counsel further submitted that no materials are on record to connect the applicant with the alleged crime; hence , he is entitled to get bail. The learned Public Prosecutor, on the other hand, submitted that the alleged incident occurred as a part of the intentional criminal acts of the applicant, and if he is released on bail at this stage, it will affect the course of the investigation.

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The applicant is a senior citizen aged 75 years. The learned counsel for the applicant submitted that he is a heart patient. The alleged incident took place in a bus shelter on the side of a public road. The learned counsel threw my attention to the F.I. Statement and submitted that there is no allegation therein to the effect that the alleged act was done with sexual intention so as to attract the offences under the POCSO Act. Considering the allegations levelled against the applicant , his custodial interrogation does not appear to be necessary. For these reasons, it is a fit case where pre-arrest bail can be granted to the applicant.

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In the result, the application is allowed on the following conditions:-

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B.A.No.1215/2023

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: 4 :

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(i) The applicant shall be released on bail in the event of his arrest on executing a bond for `1,00,000/- (Rupees One lakh only) with two solvent sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the arresting officer/investigating officer, as the case may be.

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(ii) The applicant shall fully cooperate with the investigation, including subjecting himself to the deemed police custody for discovery, if any, as and when demanded.

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(iii) The applicant shall appear before the investigating officer between 10.00 a.m. and 11.00 a.m. every Saturday until further orders. He shall also appear before the investigating officer as and when required.

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(iv) The applicant shall not commit any offence of a like nature while on bail.

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(v) The applicant shall not attempt to contact any of the prosecution witnesses, directly or through any other person, or in any other way try to tamper with the evidence or influence any witnesses or other persons related to the investigation.

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(vi) The applicant shall not leave the State of Kerala without the permission of the trial Court.

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(vii) The application, if any, for deletion/modification of bail conditions or cancellation of bail on the

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B.A.No.1215/2023

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grounds of violating the bail conditions shall be filed at the jurisdictional court.

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Sd/Dr. KAUSER EDAPPAGATH JUDGE

ncd

B.A.No.1215/2023

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APPENDIX OF BAIL APPL. 1215/2023

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PETITIONER ANNEXURES Annexure-I A TRUE COPY OF THE MEDICAL CERTIFICATE ISSUED FROM THE RAJAGIRI HOSPITAL, ALUVA DATED 05.04.2022 Annexure-II CERTIFIED COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 02.02.2023 IN CRL MP NO. 191/2023 PASSED BY 1ST ADDITIONAL SESSIONS JUDGE, THRISSUR

Chandran.P.K v. State of Kerala

Case brief

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What did the court decide?

Chandran.P.K v. State of Kerala

Case brief

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