The Enforcement Directorate has approached the Kerala High Court to revoke the bail granted to Harish Kumar, the ninth accused in the May attack on its officials during a raid at former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's residence. The Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court had released him on June 24.
In its petition, the ED voiced concern that the sessions court prosecutor may have provided incorrect information while the bail application was being heard, leading to the grant of relief. The agency also suspects that other leaders who allegedly orchestrated the assault remain uninvestigated. Citing Supreme Court observations condemning mob attacks on judicial officers, the ED argued that the sessions court should have denied bail in line with the top court's stance on attacks against officials.
The agency further pointed out that the organisers of the crime have not been arrested, evidence recovery has been inadequate, and therefore bail was unwarranted. The High Court is expected to take up the matter shortly.
Separately, Sanath Reddy Polamreddy, the ED official who led the raid and is the complainant in the FIR, has filed a plea to be impleaded in the bail proceedings before the Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court. His application states the investigation remains active and in early stages, with a substantial number of co-accused still at large. Polamreddy said he wants to place the true and unvarnished facts before the court.
A public interest litigation also pending before the High Court seeks a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the attack. The court has directed the state to file a statement on steps taken since the FIR was registered.
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📰 Source: The Hindu National