The Kerala High Court has granted bail to four people arrested after a Mini Cooper crashed into a scooter on Nedumbassery airport road, killing three young people, while directing that prime accused Suhail Sajeev be released only after 10 days.
Justice Kauser Edappagath passed the order on bail petitions filed by Sajeev, Ninav, Joyal Anto and Ameen Shah. The four were travelling in the Mini Cooper when it rammed into the scooter carrying the three victims, including two women, on October 11.
The court deferred Sajeev’s release after considering apprehensions raised by the prosecution and lawyers representing the deceased families. The Ernakulam District Sessions Court and the Angamaly Judicial First Class Magistrate Court had earlier rejected the bail applications filed by the four accused.
During the hearing, defence lawyers submitted that the accused were 19-year-old students and that their studies had been affected by their prolonged judicial custody. The court noted that they had spent nearly a month in custody.
The prosecution opposed bail, stating that the three victims were also young people from poor families and were the hopes of their respective households. It further submitted that, apart from Sajeev, the other accused had fled the crash site soon after the incident and were later arrested by police.
The prosecution told the court that the investigation was still in progress and that releasing the accused could affect the probe. It also raised allegations of drunken driving and overspeeding. The court, however, observed that key aspects of the investigation relating to those allegations had already been completed. It also said it could not be concluded that the accused had the requisite knowledge.
Lawyers representing the deceased families expressed concern that Sajeev, who was alleged to belong to an influential family, could tamper with evidence if released. They also submitted that he had allegedly claimed shortly after the crash that his father would take care of everything. The court held that this statement alone could not justify denying him bail.
The victims’ counsel further alleged that Sajeev was a habitual high-speed driver and argued that granting him bail could send a negative message to society. After hearing the submissions, the High Court granted bail to all four accused, with Sajeev’s release deferred by 10 days.
