Kerala HC grants bail to 7 CPM workers in ED assault case after 67 days

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has granted bail to seven CPM workers accused of attacking Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials after a raid at the residence of Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan. The accused were released on bail after spending 67 days in judicial custody.

The court imposed strict bail conditions, including a direction that the accused shall not enter the area where the incident took place or the limits of the concerned police subdivision.

Granting bail, the High Court observed that the investigation was almost complete and that weapons allegedly used in the incident had already been recovered. It said there was no further need to keep the accused in custody.

The court also examined the nature of the injuries sustained by the ED officials and noted that, apart from minor injuries suffered by a driver, no serious injuries had been reported.

The Enforcement Directorate and the Kerala government had strongly opposed the bail pleas. Appearing for the ED, the Additional Solicitor General argued that attacking officials of a central investigative agency was a serious offence and that the accused should not be granted bail. The ED also contended that the intention behind the attack, rather than the extent of the injuries, should be the key consideration.

However, the court took into account the fact that the accused had already spent a considerable period in jail and that the investigation was nearing completion before granting them bail.

The case relates to an alleged attack on ED officials and damage to their vehicles as they were leaving after conducting a raid at Pinarayi Vijayan's residence. The accused had been in jail since May 28. Their earlier bail pleas had been rejected, but the High Court has now granted bail in view of the progress made in the investigation.