Kochi: The high court has directed Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to consider allowing a Sri Lankan national, an accused in an NIA case who has been granted bail, to stay at a place other than a detention centre, subject to appropriate restrictions and without circumventing the bail order.
A bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice V M Syam Kumar issued the order on a habeas corpus petition filed by Nona Pirosha, wife of A Ramesh, a Sri Lankan national arrested by NIA on Sept 7, 2021, in connection with the alleged interception of a Sri Lankan boat carrying 301kgof heroin, five AK-56 rifles and 1,000 rounds of 9mmammunition. However, an HC division bench granted him bail on Aug 21, 2026, subject to stringent conditions, including surrendering his passport, furnishing his residential address to NIA and reporting to FRRO immediately upon release. Before he could furnish the bail bond, the FRRO issued a restriction order against him on Sept 1, 2026.
Six Sri Lankan nationals were on board the vessel. Pirosha approached the HC, contending that the order would effectively nullify the bail granted by the court. She also produced a rent agreement specifying where Ramesh proposed to reside during the trial. The additional solicitor general sought time to ascertain whether FRRO could accept the accommodation covered by the agreement, submitting that the matter could be considered once the bail bond was furnished.
Ramesh’s earlier bail applications were rejected by the special court.