SUNIL @ SUNI Vs. DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, ALAPPUZHA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Bail Application No. 5832 of 2009 is filed by Sunil alias Suni (accused No. 7), Aneesh Kumar (accused No. 9), Binoy Markose alias Binoy (accused No. 10) and Jain Jose alias Jain (accused No. 11) in Crime No. 197 of 2009 of Nedumudy Police Station. Bail Application No. 6088 of 2009 is filed by Shino Paul (Accused No. 4) and Akash Sasidharan alias Rajesh (accused No. 5) in the aforesaid Crime. The Bail Applications are under S.439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

(2.) The offences alleged against the accused persons, 25 in number, are under S.143, 147, 148, 324, 302, 120B, 201 and 212 of the Indian Penal Code and S.5 of the Explosive Substances Act.

(3.) The case is popularly known as Paul Muthoot murder case. It is said that visual media and print media in the State had closely covered the various incidents of the case, the various stages of investigation, and even they had interviewed some witnesses. Some have acclaimed the media for the job they had undertaken while others have criticised the media for having indulged in what is called 'media trial'. It is stated that Sri. Vinson M. Paul, I.G. of Police, appeared in the visual media and put forward 'the story of the prosecution', even before getting sufficient materials for arriving at any conclusion. It is submitted by the counsel for the petitioners that great prejudice was caused to the petitioners and the other accused persons as a result of this. It is also submitted that the investigation is being proceeded with to fit in with that story which was prematurely put forward by the I.G. of Police.