SIBIN RAJ Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This application is filed under section 439 of the Crimial P.C., 1973

(2.) The applicant herein was originally arrayed as the 5th accused in S.C.No.1254 of 2008 on the file of the IV Additional Sessions Judge, Thrissur. As he had absconded, the case against him was split up and the trial against the rest of the accused was proceeded with. By judgment dated 07.10.2014, accused Nos.1 and 6 were found guilty of the offence and they were convicted. However, accused Nos.2 to 4, 7 and 9 were found not guilty and they were acquitted of all charges.

(3.) The long arms of law finally caught up with the applicant and he was arrested on 15.07.2018. He filed an application for bail but, the same was rejected taking note of his abscondence for over 12 years. The apprehension expressed by the prosecution that the applicant would manage to delay the trial even further was found to be justified.