Kochi, 29 June (H.S.):

The Kerala High Court on Monday sharply questioned the state government’s plea seeking cancellation of bail granted to Harish, the ninth accused in the case related to the alleged attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Thiruvananthapuram.

During the hearing, the court observed that the incident could not be described as an organised crime on the basis of the material placed before it. It asked the prosecution to explain who had suffered serious injuries in the alleged attack and what specific case had been made out against the ninth accused.

The court also questioned how the role of an accused could be established if no weapon had been used by him. It further sought details of what had emerged during Harish’s custodial interrogation.

The government had moved the High Court after controversy erupted over the grant of bail to Harish. Allegations were raised that former prosecutor Geena Kumari had colluded with the accused, following which she was removed from her post.

However, the court refused to accept the Director General of Prosecution’s allegation of collusion. It observed that a prosecutor’s duty was to assist the court, but an order granting bail was passed by the judge after applying judicial discretion. The court said it could not interfere with the bail order without first hearing the accused.

The court also declined the government’s request to issue notice to former prosecutor Geena Kumari. Notice was issued only to Harish, giving him two weeks to present his side. The case will be taken up again on July 13.

Geena Kumari had earlier stated in a Facebook post that she had done nothing wrong. She said she had represented the government in hundreds of cases for nine-and-a-half years and had never shown political bias while handling cases involving ministers, MLAs or others.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman