Pre-arrest bail may be denied when serious allegations justify the need for custodial interrogation.

ORDER

This is an application seeking pre-arrest bail filed under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 .

2. Petitioners are accused nos. 1 to 5 in Crime No.7 of 2023 of Bekal Police Station, Kasargode, alleging offences under Sections 143 , 147, 148, 447, 341, 323, 324 and 326 r/w Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 .

3. The prosecution case is that on 01-01-2023, accused formed themselves into an unlawful assembly and trespassed into the courtyard of the house of the defacto complainant and attacked him and his mother with wooden stick and iron rod and inflicted serious injuries including fracture of the right tibia of the defacto complainant.

4. Sri.A.Arun Kumar, the learned counsel for the petitioners, submitted that the incident as alleged had not occurred and petitioners are totally innocent. It was also submitted that, before the alleged incident, the defacto complainant had attacked the accused and thereafter, a false complainant has been alleged. It is also pointed out that petitioners are willing to abide by any conditions that may be imposed upon them.

5. Sri. Noushad K.A, the learned the learned Public Prosecutor, opposed the grant of bail and submitted that the allegations are serious and the accused had assaulted the defacto complainant and his mother with a wooden log and an iron rod and serious injuries were inflicted on them. It is also pointed out that a fracture of the right tibia has been occassioned and that custodial interrogation is necessary.

6. I considered the rival contentions and have also perused the records produced.

7. Having regard to the nature of injuries inflicted and also the circumstances that all the accused together had seriously assaulted the defacato complainant and his mother, causing a fracture to the defacto complainant. I am of the view that, this is not a fit case were the petitioners could be released on bail.

Accordingly, I dismiss the application. However, in the event of petitioners surrendering before the Investigating Officer within ten days from today, they shall be subjected to interrogation and thereafter be produce before the Jurisdictional Court without further delay. In the event of any application for bail being filed, the same shall also considered in accordance with law, without further delay.

This bail application is dismissed.

BECHU KURIAN THOMAS, JUDGE mtk/18.01.23 APPENDIX OF BAIL APPL. 180/2023 PETITIONER ANNEXURES Annexure AI A TRUE COPY OF THE F.I.R IN CRIME NO.7 OF

2023 OF BEKAL POLICE STATION Annexure AII A TRUE COPY OF THE F.I.R IN CRIME NO.14 OF 2023 OF BEKAL POLICE STATION