HC stays bail order of Sobha John

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday stayed the lower court order granting bail to Sobha John, prime accused in the Sabarimala Thantri assault case.

Staying Tuesday's bail order by the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate's (CJM) court, Justice K R Udaybanu issued notice to the prime accused.

The government had approached the High Court this morning challenging the CJM's order granting bail in the case relating to the assault of the thantri, Kandararu Mohanararu in a flat here on July 23.

The priest had complained that he had been robbed of cash and jewels by a five-member gang and was allegedly threatened and photographed with a woman in the flat.

The state government submitted that the accused had abetted the crime and was the prime conspirator in the case.

The Director General of Prosecution (DGP), P G Thamy, informed the court that the investigation of the case was not over and if bail was granted in the case, she was likely to influence other witnesses and tamper with the evidence.

The government also pointed out that even though Sobha John was extensively questioned by police, she had declined to disclose the truth. The "robbed ornaments" have not been recovered so far and the accused knows about its wherabouts, Thampy claimed.

The bail order could not be executed as the CJM court had insisted that one of the sureties should produce a solvency certificate from the revenue authorities.