Kochi: The Kerala High Court has dismissed a case against a Swiss citizen Jonathan Baud detained after participating in a function to commemorate a Maoist leader at Valappad in Thrissur district of Kerala and pave the way for his return to Switzerland.
Admitting a petition by 24-year old Baud, Justice P Ubaid commented that the continuation of the case against him is a crass abuse of judicial process.
The court ordered the authorities to take immediate steps to help the petitioner’s return to his country.
The Judge said there was no such condition in the visa of Baud that prohibits him attending any congregation. He had took part in a function organized on July 28. Baud asserted that he had not committed any sort of crime as claimed by police.
He was booked for his alleged violation of conditions of visa. According to the petitioner, he was doing Masters level economics course in University of Geneva and was interested in history and economics besides being an avid reader. The petitioner contended that he was the only foreigner to have watched the meeting at Kodungallur.
The representatives, details of whom he was not aware of, enquired about his identity and he informed that he was on a visit to the country. This incident was ‘twisted’ by the investigating authority leading to the registration of crime under Sec 14 (b) of the Foreigners Act, he stated.
According to police, Baud, who arrived in Kerala on a tourist visa, attended the meeting organised in memory of Sinoj, a Maoist activist from the state, who was killed while making country bombs in Andhra Pradesh-Karnataka border.
Admitting a petition by 24-year old Baud, Justice P Ubaid commented that the continuation of the case against him is a crass abuse of judicial process.
The court ordered the authorities to take immediate steps to help the petitioner’s return to his country.
The Judge said there was no such condition in the visa of Baud that prohibits him attending any congregation. He had took part in a function organized on July 28. Baud asserted that he had not committed any sort of crime as claimed by police.
He was booked for his alleged violation of conditions of visa. According to the petitioner, he was doing Masters level economics course in University of Geneva and was interested in history and economics besides being an avid reader. The petitioner contended that he was the only foreigner to have watched the meeting at Kodungallur.
The representatives, details of whom he was not aware of, enquired about his identity and he informed that he was on a visit to the country. This incident was ‘twisted’ by the investigating authority leading to the registration of crime under Sec 14 (b) of the Foreigners Act, he stated.
According to police, Baud, who arrived in Kerala on a tourist visa, attended the meeting organised in memory of Sinoj, a Maoist activist from the state, who was killed while making country bombs in Andhra Pradesh-Karnataka border.
