Court grants police 10-day custody of accused in Kochi blast case

A court in Kerala on Monday granted the police ten days custody of the lone accused in the Kochi bomb blast case.

Principal Session Court Judge Honey M Varghese allowed the police’s plea for 10-day custody of Dominic Martin.

Four people were killed and over 50 were injured in the blast during a prayer meeting of the Jehovah’s Witnesses at a convention center in Kalamassery near here on October 29.

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The police submitted that they need to investigate his sources of income, international connections, and other related matters.

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They also said that the accused must be taken to certain locations for further collection of evidence.

Meanwhile, Martin once again declined the assistance of a legal aid lawyer.

Previously, on October 31, Martin was remanded to judicial custody.

In addition to Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (Punishment for murder) and Section 3 of the Explosive Substances Act, relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) have also been invoked against the accused.

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The police formally recorded Martin’s arrest as he had surrendered a few hours after the blasts on October 29.

A few hours prior to surrendering, Martin, who claimed to be an estranged member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, posted a video on social media explaining his reasons for carrying out the blasts.

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