Kochi: The High Court rejected the bail plea of Jolly Joseph, the main accused in two cases related to the Koodathayi serial murders. Justice C.S Dias quashed the bail plea in the murder of Jolly’s first husband Roy Thomas and father-in-law Tom Thomas. The court opined that granting bail could pose a threat to the administration of justice.

Considering the nature of the offense and other factors, bail cannot be granted, the court observed. The seriousness of the allegations of killing six people has to be taken into account. The court held that the accused tried to commit suicide while in judicial custody and intelligence report states that there is public anger against the accused. The bail application was rejected after considering these circumstances. 

The prosecution has put forward the case that the family members were killed using cyanide to acquire family property. The plea of the petitioner states her innocence and argues that there is no reason to imprison her after decades of the murders and investigation is also complete.  

However, the investigation officer informed that the investigation in the cases of the suspicious death of six people who were allegedly killed by poisoning, has been completed and the report has been submitted and the trial proceedings are progressing. 

Bail was granted for one case by the high court but was subsequently stayed by the supreme court. 

The Case
In a span of 14 years, six members of a family at Koodathayi in Kozhikode were killed under similar circumstances. A retired employee of the education department Ponnamattam Tom Thomas, wife retd. teacher Annamma, son Roy Thomas, Annamma’s brother Mathew Manchadi, Tom Thomas’ nephew’s wife Sili, and her one-year-old daughter Alphine had died in similar circumstances, but years apart. Later Roy Thomas' wife Jolly and Sili's husband Shaju got married.

Jolly, her friend Mathew M S, a jewellery employee and Mathew’s friend Prajikumar were later arrested by the police. Mathew and Prajikumar were arrested for allegedly delivering cyanide to Jolly to commit the murders.