Kerala High Court Grants Bail to Alleged LTTE Operative

The has granted bail to a Sri Lankan national accused of attempting to revive the banned (LTTE).

A Division Bench comprising Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice P.V. Balakrishnan set aside an earlier special court order that had rejected the bail application of the accused, Satgunam.

Grounds for Bail

The bench allowed the appeal citing the accused’s prolonged incarceration and his constitutional right to a speedy trial under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.

Satgunam has been in custody since October 2021. According to a status report from the trial court, proceedings in the case are unlikely to begin before January 2027. The High Court observed that continued detention without the commencement of trial weighed in favour of granting bail.

Charges and Allegations

The (NIA) had charged the accused under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Investigators alleged that he conspired to revive the LTTE and wage war against Sri Lanka, including plans involving the trafficking of narcotics and arms to support the organisation.

Satgunam, a Sri Lankan citizen, had been residing in Chennai as a refugee at the time of his arrest.

Bail Conditions

While granting bail, the High Court imposed several conditions:

He must seek prior permission from the special court before leaving Kerala.

He must surrender his passport.

He is required to use a mobile number accessible to the NIA for monitoring purposes.

The case will now proceed before the special court, with the trial expected to begin in 2027.