Published Nov 05, 2026 | 3:15 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 05, 2026 | 3:17 PM
The court orally observed that the accused had cooperated with the investigation and could be directed to appear whenever required.
The Kerala High Court on Thursday, November 5, granted anticipatory bail to Additional Sessions Judge Rino Francis, the father of the accused and the registered owner of the Mercedes-Benz involved in the fatal Cheranalloor crash.
The crash killed Jayabalakrishnan, a resident of Manjali, while he was returning home after work on October 25. The judge’s 17-year-old son is accused of ramming Jayabalakrishnan’s scooter with the luxury sedan while driving at high speed.
Justice Kauser Edappagath passed the bail order and questioned the prosecution’s insistence on custodial interrogation when the accused had already undergone approximately six hours of questioning.
During the hearing, the court orally observed that the accused had cooperated with the investigation and could be directed to appear whenever required.
“He says he did not know that the car was taken… What do you want? You want to interrogate him? You want him in jail?” the court asked the Additional Director of Prosecution.
The court further observed that if the accused failed to cooperate with the investigation, the prosecution could approach the court seeking cancellation of bail.
The prosecution alleged that the judge’s 17-year-old son took the car on the day of the accident with his knowledge.
Senior Advocate P. Vijayabhanu, appearing for the judge alongside advocate John S. Ralph, submitted that the minor had taken the vehicle without the accused’s knowledge.
The Cheranalloor police booked the judge under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) pertaining to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, read with Sections 181, 183, and 199A of the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act. The High Court had earlier granted him interim protection from arrest.
The judge is currently posted at a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Irinjalakuda, Thrissur district, and is the registered owner of the Mercedes-Benz involved in the crash.
A detailed order is awaited.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
