Kochi: In the case of the death of Sidharthan JS, a veterinary student in Kerala, the Kerala High Court granted bail to all the 19 accused, The New Indian Express reported.
Sidharthan was a student at the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Pookode in Wayanad. The accused, Akhil K, Kashinathan R S, Ameen Akberali U, Arun K, Sinjo Johnson, N Asif Khan, Amal Ihsan A, Ajay J, Althaf A, Soud Risal E K, Adithyan V, Muhammed Dhanish M, Rehan Benoy, Akash S D, Abhishek S, Shreehari R D, Dones Daie, Billgate Joshwa Thannikode and Naseef V are also students there.
The court of Justice CS Dias observed that on an overall consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, prima facie, the court did not find sufficient material to establish any positive act on the part of the accused to have instigated or aided the deceased to commit suicide. However, the court imposed stringent conditions on the accused, stating that they should not enter Wayanad district until the conclusion of the trial and should not leave the state without permission of the trial court.
The court granted the bail after the petitioners argued they were in judicial custody for around 90 days, and the investigation on the case is complete, with the final report being laid. They argued they were all students, had no criminal antecedents, and were neither influential nor affluent to intimidate the witnesses or flee from justice. They also argued that the chances of conviction in the case are bleak and pleaded that they must be granted bail.
According to CBI’s final report, the accused in the case questioned Sidharthan for alleged misbehaviour towards a female student. They stripped him to his underwear, beat him up with a belt and a glue gun cable, and slapped and kicked him.
They assaulted, restrained, confined, humiliated and harassed Sidharthan from 9.30 pm on February 16 and lasted till 1 am on February 17, the report stated.
The charges levelled against the accused are Sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 324 (causing hurt using a dangerous weapon), 342 (wrongful confinement), 355 (criminal force or assault with intent to dishonour a person, but not on grave provocation), 306 (abetment of suicide) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC.