The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal of State of Kerala seeking to cancel bail granted by Kerala High Court to Dr Ranees for treating an assailant of professor T J Jacob of Newman college, Thodupuzha, whose right palm was chopped off by some Islamic militants for incorporating a question in B.Com paper criticising Prophet Mohammed and Islam.

The incident took place on July 4, 2010 when seven assailants came in a Maruti van.

A bench comprising Justices Markandey Katju and Gyansudha Misra refusing to cancel the bail of Dr Ranees noted, ‘in the present case the respondent has already spent 66 days in custody, and we see no reason why he should be denied bail.

A doctor incarcerated for a long period may end up like Dr Manette in Charles Dickens novel ‘A tale of two cities’ who forgot his profession and even his name in the Bastille.’ The judges also quoted from American Supreme Court judgement to justify their decision while confirming the High Court order dated September 17,2010.

According to the prosecution, Dr Ranees is a member of the Popular Front of India, a Muslim organisation and was head of its medical committee. certain documents, CDs, mobile phone, books etc including a book called ‘Jihad’ (holy war) were allegedly seized from his house and car.

The defence of the accused was that he is not named in the FIR and was not one of the attackers and has said attack on Professor Jacob is a crime which is to be condemned.

According to the accused, the police has leashed out a reign of terror on the members of minority community and 54 people had been made accused in the crime and a war-like situation has been created in mosques. UNI