Human sacrifice case: HC dismisses plea of accused against custody

Kerala High Court has dismissed the plea of all three accused persons in the Kerala human sacrifice case challenging the order of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court of Ernakulam granting 12 days of police custody.But the Court granted them to meet their lawyer on every alternative day for 15 minutes, but not at the time of interrogation.While dismissing the petition, Court observed that “the gruesome murder of two women purportedly for human sacrifice, has shocked the people of Kerala.”Court also observed that the lower court has passed the order granting custody with great care and caution and read the 22 points which were mentioned by the lower court in the order.In the petition, they sought to set aside the order granting police custody. They also sought permission to meet their lawyer during the time of interrogation and also sought to not allow to release the details of the confession statement of the accused through the media.Muhammed Shafi, Bhagaval Singh and Laila approached the High Court. On October 13, the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court sent all three accused to police custody till October 24.Earlier on October 19, Kerala Police launched an extensive search operation to recover the anklet of one of the two deceased women, Padma in the human sacrifice case, according to the police.The police conducted the search at the place shown by prime accused Muhammed Shafi at the Alappuzha-Changanssery canal in the Alappuzha district.