Kerala High Court: In an anticipatory bail application plea by the wildlife conservationist and a snake expert Vava Suresh for offences under Sections 2, 9, 40 and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act. Viju Abraham,J. granted him anticipatory bail.
In this case, the prosecution alleged that the accused had displayed a highly poisonous cobra next to the mike while delivering his speech, while attending an event organized at Government Medical College, Kozhikode.
The Court opined that custodial interrogation of the petitioner may not be required for the purpose of investigation and only a limited custody be granted for the said purpose. Therefore, it granted bail to the petitioner subject to stringent conditions. Further, directed the petitioner to surrender before the investigating officer on 6-1-2023, and subject himself to interrogation on that day as directed by the investigating officer.
The Court referred to Sushila Aggarwal v. State (NCT of Delhi), (2020) 5 SCC 1, and said that it is within the power of the police to investigate the matter, and if necessary to effect recoveries on the information, if any, given by the petitioner, even when the petitioner is on bail.
[Suresh v. State of Kerala, Bail Application No. 9874 of 2022, decided on 16-12-22]
Advocates who appeared in this case :
For Petitioner: Advocate M.R. Sarin;
For Respondent: Advocate Nagaraj Narayanan.
*Apoorva Goel, Editorial Assistant has reported this brief.