Daijiworld Media Network - Kochi

Kochi, Aug 3: The Kerala High Court on Monday granted conditional bail to nine CPI(M) workers arrested in connection with the alleged attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials during the politically sensitive Masappadi case investigation. The accused had remained in judicial custody for 67 days.

Justice Kauser Edappagath allowed the bail pleas of Kiran P.S., Jeevan, Anil Kumar, Sreejith, Nishad, Sidarth S., Shefeek, Nandhu G.R. and Rahul A. Rajan, observing that they had no criminal antecedents and that the investigation was nearing completion.

The court also said it would consider the bail applications of four other accused on Tuesday. While granting relief, Justice Edappagath made it clear that the allegations were serious and could not be justified.

However, the court orally observed that the prosecution had, prima facie, failed to establish the charge of attempt to murder, a finding seen as a setback for the prosecution.

The case stems from violence that broke out on May 27 after ED officials completed searches linked to the Masappadi case. According to the prosecution, the officials were returning after conducting searches at the residence of Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter when nearly 300 people allegedly surrounded their convoy, blocked the vehicles and attacked them with stones, bricks, sticks and iron rods.

The prosecution alleged that the attack damaged official vehicles and injured ED officials, CRPF personnel and police officers. The Museum Police subsequently registered a case under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, including the offence of attempt to murder.

Opposing the bail pleas, the ED told the High Court that the incident was a premeditated attack aimed at obstructing a lawful investigation and intimidating central agency officials.

In an affidavit filed by V. Sanath Reddy, Assistant Director of the ED's Kochi unit, the agency alleged that the accused had assembled with deadly weapons, blocked official vehicles, raised slogans calling for the killing of ED officers, hurled stones and vandalised government vehicles.

The ED further contended that the gap between the commencement of the searches and the attack provided sufficient time to mobilise party workers, indicating the assault was organised. It also claimed to possess video evidence showing coordinated movements by the accused and said investigations into the larger conspiracy behind the incident were continuing.

Taking note of the prolonged custody, the near completion of the investigation and the absence of criminal antecedents, the High Court granted conditional bail to the nine accused. While its observations on the attempt-to-murder charge may weaken a key aspect of the prosecution's case, the probe into the remaining offences and the alleged wider conspiracy will continue.