The Kerala High Court has issued a notice to the ninth accused in the case involving an alleged attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials during a search at the residence of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter. The court raised concerns about the police investigation and the State’s request to revoke the accused’s bail.
Justice C.S. Dias, presiding over the case, questioned the State’s challenge to the bail granted to Harishkumar, the ninth accused. The court has asked Harishkumar to respond and scheduled the next hearing for July 20. Justice Dias emphasized the need for a fair hearing before considering bail cancellation.
The court also inquired about the progress of the investigation, particularly why police custody was not sought for the accused who had been in judicial custody for 27 days. The prosecution revealed that around 300 individuals had gathered during the incident, where ED, CRPF personnel, and police officers were reportedly attacked.
Director General of Prosecution T. Asaf Ali mentioned that 25 accused, including Harishkumar, had been arrested, and their mobile phones were sent for forensic examination. The prosecution argued that custodial interrogation should wait for forensic reports and highlighted that the probe into the alleged conspiracy was still at an early stage.
Justice Dias expressed doubts regarding certain charges and requested evidence to support claims of serious injuries. The court focused on examining the legality of the bail order and sought clarification on Harishkumar’s specific role in the incident. The prosecution cited digital evidence to establish Harishkumar’s active participation in the event.
