In a significant ruling, the Kerala High Court has firmly dismissed the bail application of a police officer accused of involvement in an alleged honour killing, terming such crimes a "serious challenge" to law and justice. The court's decision came on December 3, 2025, with Justice K Murali Shankar delivering a strong observation on the grim reality of honour-based violence in India.
Court's Stern Observations on Honour Killings
Justice K Murali Shankar underscored that honour killing continues to plague Indian society despite the constitutional guarantees of personal liberty and freedom of marriage. The judge noted a tragic pattern where love and marriage against familial or societal wishes can trigger lethal violence.
"When a boy and girl love each other and marry against family or societal wishes, it sometimes leads to lethal violence by family members or relatives in the name of 'honour'," Justice Shankar stated. The court emphasized that the mere filing of a chargesheet and the court taking cognizance of the case are insufficient grounds for granting bail in such a brutal murder case.
Details of the Case and the Accused
The case pertains to the murder of a man in July 2025. The victim, who belonged to the Hindu Devendra Kula Vellalar community, was employed with a multinational company. He and the daughter of the accused were school friends who later fell in love.
The accused, the woman's father, is a serving police officer in the Tamil Nadu Police force from the Hindu Maravar community. He had initially sought bail from a sessions court, which was denied. His subsequent challenge to that dismissal in the High Court has now also been rejected.
The court dismissed the appeal, considering the gravity of the charges and the alleged role played by the accused in the victim's death, concluding the plea was devoid of merit.
Arguments Presented in Court
Senior advocate N Anantha Padmanabhan, representing the accused officer, argued for his client's innocence. He submitted that his client had no knowledge of his daughter's meeting with the victim and was on duty as a special sub-inspector at the time, learning of the incident only through television broadcasts.
Opposing the bail, government advocate B Thanga Aravindh, appearing for the state, labelled it a "clear case of honour killing". He argued that releasing the father on bail could lead to witness intimidation and evidence tampering.
Advocate B Mohan, representing the complainant, further contended that the investigation by the state police was neither proper nor lawful and seemed intended to shield the father and other accused.
The Kerala High Court's decisive stand reinforces the judiciary's role in addressing deep-rooted social evils, sending a clear message against impunity in crimes committed in the name of honour.
