Armstrong Murder Case | Wife Of Slain BSP Leader Approaches Madras High Court To Cancel Bail Of Accused
The wife of BSP leader K Armstrong who was murdered in 2024, has approached the Madras High Court seeking to cancel the bail granted to two accused persons.
On October 13, the Principal Sessions Judge Chennai, granted bail to two accused, Siva and Sathish. Armstrong's wife has now approached the High Court seeking to cancel the bail granted to the accused persons.
In her plea, Porkodi submitted that her husband had developed enemies during his political and advocacy career. While so, on July 5, 2024, Armstrong was brutally murdered. She submitted that since there were lapses in the investigation, she had also approached the High Court seeking to transfer the investigation to the CBI.
While so, the High Court allowed another plea by Armstrong's brother Keynos and ordered the investigation to be transferred to the CBI. The single judge had also quashed the chargesheet filed by the police, noting that there were lapses.
When this order was challenged by the State, the Supreme Court stayed the quashing of the chargesheet and clarified that the direction transferring the investigation to the CBI would remain in operation.
Porkodi stated that the chargesheet filed by the police was still under operation and that the trial court ought to have considered the role attributed to the two accused. it was argued that the order was passed without application of mind, and the same is cryptic, illegal, and liable to be set aside.
Porkodi has stated that the Sessions Judge failed to take into account the order of the Supreme Court, and there was no change in circumstances to entertain the bail application. It has been submitted the order has been obtained without placing the necessary facts.
It has been submitted that the bail order does not reflect the application of mind by the trial judge, as the criminal history of the accused, the nature of the crimes, the material evidence available, the involvement of the accused in the crime, and the recovery of the weapon from his possession have not been considered by the court.
Porkodi stated that the enlargement of the accused on bail has instilled grave fear in the minds of victims, which would prevent them from deposing the facts before the trial court. Thus, it has been submitted that if the bail is not cancelled, the witnesses would not be in a proper position to depose in the case.