Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Feb 14: Five of the arrested accused, who are facing charges of abducting and assaulting Shruti, daughter of Manjeshwar MLA C H Kunhambu and the brother of her friend named Shabeeb, succeeded in getting conditional bail on Friday February 13. However, they have opted not to sign the bond for the fear of their safety, and have requested the government to provide them security.
Hearing of the bail petitions moved by Aravind Das, Satish, Raju alias Rajesh, Ranjith and Prakash was held in the court of the second chief judicial magistrate here. The court decided to grant bail, considering the fact that Shruti could identify only one of the accused named Prakash and the fact that the assault charge had not been proved and that Shabeeb had failed to file any complaint in this connection so far.
The court prescribed that all the accused have to furnish two guarantors and provide security by way of bonds in addition to cash security of Rs 25,000 each. Advocate P P Hegde appeared on behalf of the accused.
Accused bus driver and conductors have already filed affidavits, saying that they are supporters of Communist Party. The advocate argued, that the accused had warned Shabeeb for behaving improperly with Shruti, in the interest of her own safety. Because they warned him, Shruti's life could be saved, he said. The advocate also alleged that there has been pressure on the policemen from the MLA’s side not to produce the records of the conversation between Shruti and Shabeeb and also the SMSs exchanged by them.
The policemen objected to the bail petitions, as the investigation is still in progress. However, the court did not consider their objections, holding that the charges against the accused were not proved.
The accused have requested Kerala and Karnataka governments to provide them with protection, in view of constant threats they face from the CPI (M) workers and therefore, refused to come out on bail. Parents of the accused have sought protection from the chief ministers of both the states besides the union home minister. Five buses belonging to the firm, in which the accused were working, have been damaged in stone pelting incidents and five cases have been registered. But, Kerala government has not so far arrested any one. In view of these, they have refused to come out of the jail, explained their counsel P P Hegde.
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