Kerala High Court Approves Bail for Three Individuals Accused of Vandalizing Lawyer's Office
Kerala High Court has recently granted bail to three individuals accused of trespassing and vandalizing an advocate's office in Haripad. Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan recognized the gravity of the allegations but highlighted that the maximum penalty for the offenses in question is limited to seven years of imprisonment.
12/17/20241 min read
The Court commended the Kerala High Court Advocates Association (KHCAA) for intervening in support of a fellow lawyer, noting that such solidarity within the legal community is commendable.
The case pertains to a November 25, 2024 incident, where a group of men allegedly trespassed into a lawyer's rented office, vandalized property, and discarded his files, coat, and name board. The accused are also alleged to have taken financial documents, causing a loss of ₹30,700.
The accused were arrested on November 29 under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNS), including Section 331(4) for house-trespass and Section 305(a) for theft in a building or premises used for habitation or property storage, both carrying a maximum penalty of seven years.
The individuals arrested — Vijith V.C., Manmadhan G., and Sundaram T.V. — were granted bail by the Court on December 12, following a critical observation of their alleged actions.
The Court stated that if the defacto complainant (the lawyer whose office was vandalized) is occupying a room belonging to the petitioners (the accused) without authorization, their proper course of action would be to approach the relevant civil court. The Court emphasized that the petitioners have no legal right to resort to self-help or take matters into their own hands.