Kerala court rejects plea to cancel bail of judge’s minor son

A court in Ernakulam refused to cancel the anticipatory bail granted to a judge's minor son in a fatal hit-and-run case, despite objections from the prosecution and victim's family. The juvenile's father also secured anticipatory bail from another court

Kochi: In another setback to the family of the 55-year-old man killed in a road accident involving a Mercedes-Benz car driven by a judge’s minor son, a court in Ernakulam, Kerala, on Thursday refused to cancel the anticipatory bail earlier granted to the juvenile.

The decision came despite strong objections from the prosecution and pleas by the deceased man’s family, which had sought cancellation of the bail.

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The court made it clear that the law relating to juveniles was unambiguous and that the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act had to be followed.

It also came down heavily on attempts to view the case without taking into account the special legal safeguards governing children in conflict with the law.

Before passing its order, the court asked the police to submit a report within an hour on whether similar charges had been invoked in other cases in the district.

When the court reassembled an hour later, the police informed it that there were nine such cases.

The victim’s family had strongly opposed the continuation of the accused’s bail, hoping that the court would reconsider the relief granted to the juvenile. However, the court declined to interfere with its earlier order.

The development came on a day when the juvenile’s father, a judicial officer, also secured anticipatory bail from another court in connection with the same accident case.

The 55-year-old roadside eatery owner was run over by the Mercedes-Benz car in the early hours of a day last month while returning home after closing his eatery.

The deceased man’s daughter expressed deep disappointment over Thursday’s developments in both courts.

She said the family was at a loss to understand what was happening and felt that ordinary people were finding it increasingly difficult to get justice.

For the victim’s family, the two court decisions on the same day have come as a major blow in its continuing fight for justice.