Kerala - Kochi   

Sex scandal: order reserved

Staff Reporter

HIGH COURTROUND-UP

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Thursday reserved its judgment on a petition filed by the State Government challenging the proceedings initiated by the Kozhikode Judicial First Class Magistrate-IV on a petition seeking to arraign the former Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty as an accused in the ice-cream parlour sex scandal case.

The judgment was reserved by Justice K. Thankappan. The court had earlier stayed the proceedings. The magistrate initiated the action after taking cognisance of the petition filed by P.J. Sebastian in the light of the revelations made by Rejina, one of the victims in the sex scandal case. According to the Government, the Magistrate court took cognisance of the petition even as the trial in the same case was on before the Sessions court. The criminal law prohibited initiation of two separate proceedings in the same case. The Government contended that the Division Bench had earlier observed that each time Ms. Rejina made a statement, it could not give rise to a fresh course of action. The Division Bench had pointed out that Ms. Rejina was examined by the police time and again and she had also made statement before the Court of Magistrate under Section 164 Cr.P.C. three times. A person claiming to be a witness or victim could not be heard endlessly, the Division Bench had observed. According to the Government, the petition was an abuse of process of court. The Magistrate court should have dismissed the petition. Mr. Sebastian also filed an affidavit before the court saying that the Magistrate had refused to withdraw his petition. He wanted to withdraw the petition in view of the Division Bench observation.

Ragging case

The first-accused in the ragging case at nursing school of the School of Medical Education, Kottayam, Ranjit Varghese, on Thursday withdrew his bail petition. He filed the petition before Justice K. Padmanabhan Nair.

Inquiry ordered

A Bench comprising Justice J.B. Koshy and Justice A.K. Basheer directed the Superintendent of police, Kollam, to conduct an inquiry into the allegation of harassment made against Isaac Antony, Circle Inspector of Police, Special Branch. According to Sreedevi Amma, she had been detained by the CI at his office for three hours.

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