These applications are preferred by accused nos.1 and 2 respectively, in Crime No.424 of 2014 of the Valiyathura Police station for the offences punishable under Secs.463, 465, 466, 468, 471, 474 and Sec.511 of Sec.420 read with Sec.34 of the Indian Penal Code, are in custody from 18.05.2014 and 12.06.2014 respectively, and seek bail. 2. Learned Public Prosecutor has opposed the applications. It is submitted that the 1st accused submitted certain documents including certificates purported to be issued by the Kerala State Industrial Department and income tax returns to the Consulate of the United States to facilitate obtaining visa for him to that country. Those documents were found to be forged. A complaint was preferred by the Assistant Regional Security Officer, Regional Security Office, U.S. Consulate General, Chennai to the DIG and Commissioner of Police, Thiruvananthapuram city. Based on that complaint, the case was registered. Investigation conducted so far revealed involvement of the accused 1 and 2. It is also submitted that the seal and hard disc(used for alleged forgery) are to be recovered. Further interrogation is required.
3. Learned counsel appearing for the 1st accused submitted that the allegations are not true and that at any rate, the 1st accused is in custody from 18.05.2014.
4. Learned counsel for the 2nd accused submitted that the 2nd accused has nothing to do with the alleged presentation of the allegedly forged documents by the 1st accused to the U.S. Consulate General. Learned counsel contended that according to the Assistant Regional Security officer on whose complaint the case is registered, what the 1st accused had told him is about Wilfred, resident of Vazhuthakadu near Thiruvananthapuram ( with his telephone numbers given in Annexure-1 attached to B.A. No.4626 of 2014) who created the documents and gave it to the 1st accused for use in the U.S. Consulate. According to the learned counsel, the 2nd accused does not have any such telephone number nor he is residing in the said address. Instead, for the last several years he is residing at Nalanchira which is almost 12 kilometers away from Vazhuthakadu. According to the learned counsel, it is a case of mistaken identity of the 2nd accused. As directed by this Court he surrendered before the investigating officer on 12.06.2014. His further detention is not required.
5. The investigating officer has to verify the aforesaid contentions raised by the learned counsel for the 2nd accused. At this stage, I must remember the submission made by the learned Public Prosecutor that investigation conducted so far revealed involvement of the 2nd accused as well. I must also notice that the seal and hard disc are not recovered. The same may be necessary to prove the alleged offence. In the circumstances, request of these accused for bail cannot be allowed at this stage.
The applications are dismissed without prejudice to these accused moving again after the investigation has progressed.
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THOMAS P. JOSEPH JUDGE / True Copy / NS P.A. To Judge