The Kerala High Court in the case Jagadeesh P. v. State of Kerala observed and has issued the notice in the plea moved by the lawyer alleging manhandling by police officers earlier this month.
The bench headed by Justice N. Nagaresh in the case observed and has passed an interim order directing the respondent police officials not to harass the petitioner pending disposal of his plea.
In the present case, the petitioner wo being an acute heart patient who had undergone Angioplasty, alleged that himself and his wife were molested and brutally manhandled by the police officers of Feroke Police Station, on two occasions.
In the said case, it was averred that on October 1, 2023, upon returning from the Police Station in a car driven by his wife, and while discussing with his client in his car, his client’s mother and two brothers shouted at the petitioner and his wife, and has proceeded to assault his wife.
The petitioner in the plea submitted before the court that when he continued his discussion with his client by parking his vehicle on a public road, the respondent police officials approached them alleging that they were creating a ‘riot’ on a public road. It was also alleged that the Sub Inspector, and two Civil Police Officers brutally manhandled the petitioner and his wife.
The petitioner in the plea submitted that by the time, two false FIRs had already been instituted against him, while his wife had filed complaints before the City Police Commissioner, and the Station House Officer of Feroke Police Station wherein seeking immediate action against the aforementioned police officers.
Further, the plea moved averred that when he subsequently took his dog for a walk at around 12.15AM on 09.10.2023, he was thrashed by the respondent Sub Inspector with the latter’s lathi, and hurled with verbal abuses. Thus, he also alleged that the respondent police officers patrolled around him for around 45 minutes, and that he only had a narrow escape from further physical assault from them.
The court observed that such assault from the respondent police officers that the present plea was moved by the petitioner wherein seeking the issuance of a direction to the former not to harass him further.
The court in the case seek response of the respondent State authorities, and clarified that in case the petitioner’s presence was required in connection with any crime, the same could only be ensured after issuance of notice.
The counsel, Advocate Praveen Harikumar moved the present plea.