The Kerala High Court on Friday granted bail to all four accused involved in the fatal Kochi Mini Cooper crash that claimed the lives of three craft retail store employees last month.
However, the court ruled that 19-year-old Suhail Sajeev, who was behind the wheel at the time of the incident, will be released only after 10 days, while the remaining three co-accused may be released immediately.
The tragic accident occurred on October 11 on the Cochin Airport Road when a speeding Mini Cooper driven by an intoxicated Suhail rammed into a two-wheeler. The crash resulted in the immediate deaths of Iyas, Gopika, and Devika—all employees at a retail crafts store in Thrikkakara.
Suhail faces charges including rash driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, and culpable homicide not amounting to murder, while co-passengers Ameen Shah, Ninav, and Joyal S Anto were charged with abetment.
Presiding over the bench, Justice Kauser Edappagath observed that continued detention of the accused was unnecessary. The court highlighted that they had already undergone custodial interrogation twice, spent nearly a month in judicial remand, were young, and had no prior criminal antecedents.
The decision came after lower courts in Angamaly and Ernakulam previously rejected their bail petitions.
Police investigations revealed that the group had visited at least three local bars before the collision, with chemical analysis demonstrating Suhail’s blood alcohol content was five times over the permissible limit.
