The prime accused in the Kerala serila bomb blast case, Dominic Martin, being presented before the Ernakulum Principal Sessions Court, was subjected to a medical examination by the Kochi police to ensure his well-being.
Earlier, Dominic Martin was taken to a hospital for a medical check-up by Kochi police ahead of being produced before the Ernakulum Principal sessions court.
The Principal Sessions court granted custody application of Dominic Martin. The Court asked the accused if the Police had tortured him. Dominic Martin denied this and thanked the Police for their good behaviour.
Dominic Martin also told the Court that he is healthy and fit and will cooperate with the investigation.
Principal sessions court Judge Honey M Varghese asked Investigative Officer DCP Sasidharan if they required ten days of custody.
#WATCH | Kerala: Kalamassery blast accused Dominic Martin was brought to a hospital for medical check-up after he was presented to the Principal Sessions Court in Kochi. pic.twitter.com/KJ3HMAISjf
— ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2023
The DCP replied that the Police needed to investigate some sources of explosive substances, financial and technical sources and his international connections. The Police said that it is needed to collect evidence from 10 places.
The Court further asked the accused if he needed legal aid, which the accused denied. The Court told the accused that he could seek legal aid at any point if he wished. The Court then granted a Police custody application till November 15, 2023.
According to the Police, the accused is highly intelligent and hardworking. “He has a highly-paid job. He was not brainwashed,” they said.
Earlier, Police took the accused, Dominic Martin, to his residence in Athani, Ernakulam, and recreated the scene as part of their probe into the multiple explosions incident to collect more evidence in the case.
The Kerala Police had said that the blast was caused by a remote-controlled Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
The death toll from the blast rose to four on November 6 morning as a 61-year-old woman died due to her injuries.
The deceased, identified as Molly Joy, was a resident of Kalamassery. Joy had suffered 80 per cent burns owing to the blast. She was undergoing treatment at a private hospital.
Police said that Dominic Martin has been charged under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) and Explosive Substances Act.
According to the Police, the accused also has the bills for the items purchased for the IED blast. Wherever Dominic Martin purchased the goods, he made videos in those places.
Kochi Police had arrested Dominic Martin after the blasts based on a self-made confession video posted on Facebook claiming responsibility for the blasts at the Zamra International Convention Centre in Kalamassery, where over 2,000 followers of Jehovah’s Witnesses, a Christian sect, had gathered for a prayer meeting earlier in the month.
Following the incidents, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced a 20-member probe team to investigate the matter.
(with inputs from ANI)
