Attack of ED officials: Kerala High Court grants bail to one more accused

The Kerala High Court has granted bail to I.P. Binu, one of the accused in the attack on Directorate of Enforcement (ED) officials and their official vehicles in the wake of an ED raid on the residence of Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on May 29.

He had been charged under the provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act, 1984, and under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The damage that they caused had been estimated at ₹3 lakh.

Mr. Binu contended that he was falsely implicated in the case and that there was no evidence to link him with the violence. Countering this and opposing his bail plea, the government submitted that the violence occurred as part of his ‘intentional criminal acts’. The Additional Solicitor General contended that he faced serious charges, the probe was incomplete, and that the witnesses were facing threats.

While granting him bail, a Bench of Justice Kauser Edappagath observed that the accused person did not have criminal antecedents and that the victims (the ED officials) did not sustain serious injuries. Since the PDPP Act too is involved, he should be directed to deposit the compensation caused to the vehicle, as a bail condition, the court added.

The court went on to allow his bail plea, with conditions that include the executing of ₹1 lakh bond and two solvent sureties for a like sum, and his appearing before the probe officer every Saturday. He has further been barred from contacting any prosecution witness directly, or through any other person.