By TCN News,
Kochi: The Ernakulam Additional Sessions Judge yesterday issued non-bailable arrest warrant against 29 accused in the attack on a lecturer in Muvattupuzha last July. The said 29 accused are reportedly absconding and have not been arrested so far. The warrant was issued as per the request of the prosecution.
Meanwhile, the eighth accused in the case was last day granted bail by the court. The bail was granted on conditions of two personal bonds and Rs 1 lakh, that the accused should not leave Ernakulam district, passport should be handed over to the court, he should present himself before the investigating officer twice a week etc. Adv TJ Rajendran argued for the accused.
In another development, the court yesterday postponed the judgement of the bail pleas submitted by 50th accused Shanavas and 51st accused Pareethu, reportedly. The trial has been completed in the plea and the court will pronounce its judgement shortly.
The court had earlier granted bail to four of the accused when they completed 180 days in jail without the submission of chargecheet. The Supreme Court had upheld the bail granted to ninth accused Dr Raneef by the Kerala High Court. The 47th accused Prof Anas also has been granted bail, but the state government has appealed against it. The Kerala High Court last week accepted the Public Interest Litigation seeking to hand over the investigation into the case to the NIA.
The incident related to the case took place on July 4, 2010. Prof TJ Joseph, lecturer of Malayalam in Newman College, Thodupuzha, was attacked and his right palm chopped off by a group of men near his house. Joseph was accused in a blasphemy case, and was in jail. He was on bail when the attack took place. The investigation into the attack led to several alleged members of the PFI who were then arrested. The police also raided the offices of the organisation and houses of its members all over the state.