Thiruvananthapuram, 25 June (H.S.):A Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court has granted bail to Harish Kumar, the ninth accused in the case relating to the alleged attack on officials of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), after the Public Prosecutor informed the court that his further custodial detention was no longer necessary.

The case stems from an incident on May 27, when ED officials conducting a search at the residence of Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, in connection with the money laundering probe linked to the CMRL case involving his daughter Veena T., were allegedly attacked by a large mob while leaving the premises.

According to the prosecution, Harish Kumar was part of an unlawful assembly comprising around 300 identifiable persons who had gathered outside the residence armed with deadly weapons. As the ED officials boarded their vehicles after completing the search, the crowd allegedly surrounded the convoy, shouted obscenities and incited others to kill the officials.

The prosecution alleged that Harish Kumar assaulted an ED official with a stick and hurled a stone at one of the vehicles, causing serious injuries to its driver. It further claimed that when Kerala Police personnel and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel intervened to protect the officials, members of the mob attacked them with sticks, stones and bricks, inflicting injuries and obstructing them from discharging their official duties.

The ED had maintained that the violence was not a spontaneous outburst but a pre-planned attack. During the investigation, police recorded statements from witnesses and recovered most of the weapons allegedly used in the incident.

While considering the bail application, Sessions Judge Nazeera S noted that the stick allegedly used by Harish Kumar had not yet been recovered. However, Public Prosecutor Geena Kumari submitted that the investigation had progressed substantially and that the accused's continued detention was no longer required.

The court observed that there was nothing to suggest that releasing the accused on bail would adversely affect the ongoing investigation. Accordingly, the court allowed the bail plea subject to conditions.

Harish Kumar has been directed to execute a bail bond of ₹50,000 with two solvent sureties for an equal amount each to the satisfaction of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-III, Thiruvananthapuram, besides complying with other conditions imposed by the court.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman