HC turns down anticipatory bail plea of James Mathew MLA

Kochi: The High Court Friday declined to grant anticipatory bail to two persons, including CPI-M MLA James Mathew, in connection with the suicide of the Principal of a school at Taliparamba.

The principal, E P Shashidharan (52) Tagore Vidyaniketan Government higher secondary school ended his life in a lodge at Kasaragod on December 17 last year. In a suicide note, he had alleged that he was taking the extreme step due to harrassment by the MLA and Shaji, a teacher a of the school.

On the basis of the suicide note, police registered a case against the two alleging abetment to commit suicide.

Dismissing their anticipatory bail pleas, justice B Kemal Pasha said custodial interrogation of the accused is necessary. The investigation officer has to do it in a fair manner. The suicide note and case diary prima facie reveal the complicity of the accused in the case and the matter has to be investigated thoroughly, the court said.

Director General of Prosecutions, T Asaf Ali, objecting to the bail applications, said the investigation is at an early stage and the complicity of petitioners has been proven prima facie.

While the MLA's counsel contended that he would not abscond and would cooperate with the investigation, the court said the mandate of people assumes an important role in democracy. At the same time, he is ammenable to procedures established by law. Innocence has to be proved through legal means, the court said.