Kochi, July 29: The Kerala High Court has sought the State Government’s response in connection with the regular bail plea filed by one of the accused in the alleged attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials during a search operation in Thiruvananthapuram. The Court directed the government to submit its reply before taking a decision on the bail application.
The case stems from an incident in May, when ED officials and their vehicles were allegedly attacked by a crowd after the agency carried out searches linked to an ongoing money laundering investigation. Following the incident, police registered criminal cases and arrested several accused for offences including unlawful assembly, obstruction of public servants, and damage to government property.
During the hearing, the High Court indicated that it would consider the State’s stand and the progress of the investigation before deciding whether the accused is entitled to regular bail. The prosecution is expected to place details of the evidence collected, including witness statements and digital material, before the Court.
The attack on ED officials has attracted significant public and political attention, with separate petitions previously seeking a CBI investigation into the incident. Earlier this month, however, the Kerala High Court declined to transfer the investigation to the CBI, observing that the material placed before it did not show prima facie evidence of a biased or unfair investigation by the State Police.
The matter will now be taken up after the State Government files its response, following which the High Court is expected to decide the bail plea in accordance with the progress of the investigation and the evidence placed on record.
