Kerala HC Denies Bail To 12 Accused In 2018 Lynching Of Tribal Madhu

On February 22, 2018, Madhu, a tribal man hailing from Attappady, was fatally assaulted by a group of local residents alleging his involvement in a theft.

Kerala HC granted bail on the condition that he execute a bond of Rs one lakh with two sureties of the like amount.

The Kerala High Court denied bail to 12 out of 13 individuals who were convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison for their involvement in the fatal beating of a tribal man named Madhu in Palakkad in 2018. The court deemed the case "exceptional" citing the convicts' actions of publicly parading the victim naked for a significant duration with his hands tied behind his back.

A bench of Justices P B Suresh Kumar and P G Ajithkumar of Kerala High Court said the act of the convicts "left a blot on the conscience of society".

"The nature of such an act left a blot on the social conscience and the cultural fabric of the society, which is considered to be a civilised one," the high court noted, as per PTI.

At their behest, some of them also reportedly issued threats to the victim's mother.

"Considering those facts and circumstances the concern of the 2nd respondent (victim's mother) about her safety and security in the event of releasing the petitioners (convicts) on bail has reason," the high court said, as per PTI.

Simultaneously, the primary accused in the case had his sentence suspended by the court and was granted bail on the grounds that he was not present at the assembly that had harassed and made fun of the victim.

The court granted bail on the condition that he execute a bond of Rs one lakh with two sureties of the like amount.

On February 22, 2018, Madhu, a tribal man hailing from Attappady, was fatally assaulted by a group of local residents alleging his involvement in a theft. A special court in Kerala had on April 5 sentenced the 13 persons to seven years in jail for beating Madhu to death.