KOCHI: The Kerala high court on Thursday granted anticipatory bail to an additional sessions judge whose minor son was allegedly involved in a car crash that killed a scooterist on October 25.Justice Kauser Edappagath granted the relief after observing that there was nothing to suggest that the judicial officer would not cooperate with the ongoing investigation.The court questioned the need to arrest the judge, noting that his house had already been searched and items seized by investigators.“You have searched his house seized everything. This is something affecting the liberty of a person, whether District Judge or anyone. You have no case that he has not cooperated,” the court observed, as quoted by website Bar and Bench.It also questioned the state’s insistence on custodial interrogation, even while considering the allegations against the judge to be true at this stage.“Why is this a special case? A 16-page objection? This is an unfortunate case no doubt… Let’s assume that all your allegations are true at this stage and the offence is prima facie attracted, including Section 105 BNS. Even then, why do you want to arrest him? Why do you want his custody?” Justice Edappagath asked the state’s counsel, as quoted by Bar and Bench.The judge further questioned whether the judicial officer would refuse to cooperate with investigators.“As a responsible officer of this court, do you think that a District Judge will not cooperate? The fact that you oppose the bail application shows that you want his arrest. Why is an arrest required? You mean to say that he will speak the truth only under custodial interrogation? It is very unfortunate to hear it from a lawyer,” the court said, as quoted by Bar and Bench.What happened in the accident?The case relates to an accident in the early hours of October 25, when a 54-year-old man died after his two-wheeler was hit by a Mercedes-Benz car allegedly driven by the judge’s minor son.The collision occurred near Cheranelloor between 2am and 3am, police said.A case was registered under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with causing death by negligence.The minor was subsequently released on bail in accordance with the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, police said.
