Suhail Sajeev
Kochi : The high court on Friday granted bail to all four accused — Suhail Sajeevan, Ninav, Ameen Shah and Joel S Anto — in the Nedumbassery Mini Cooper crash case, in which a car allegedly driven by Suhail under the influence of alcohol rammed into a scooter, killing three people in the early hours of Oct 11. All four accused in the case are 19 years of age. The three persons killed in the accident –– Devika (21), Gopika (22) and Iyas (21) –– were traveling on the two-wheeler.
Similarly, whether the other accused, who were travelling in the car, had instigated Suhail to drive at excessive speed and abetted the commission of the offence would also have to be proved at trial, it said. the court noted that all four accused had been in custody for nearly a month and that police custody had been granted for three days on two occasions during this period While considering the bail petitions. It also noted that none of them had criminal antecedents and that their continued detention would adversely affect their academic careers. The court was also informed that the motor vehicles department had initiated steps to revoke Suhail’s driving licence. The court observed that whether Suhail’s conduct amounted to mere negligence or crossed the threshold of criminal homicide, and whether he had actual knowledge that his actions could imminently cause death, were matters to be established at trial.
Senior advocate B Raman Pillai, appearing for Suhail and the other accused, argued that further custody was unwarranted. He also pointed out that all four accused were students and had no criminal antecedents. The counsel for the de facto complainant also opposed the bail petition, contending that granting bail to the first accused would have a negative impact on society. Society was watching the outcome of the case, and granting bail to the first accused at this stage would effectively amount to tolerating juvenile drivers, the counsel submitted. However, the court orally observed that it could not be guided by society’s expectations and must act only in accordance with the law.