Kerala HC Shields 65-Year-Old Accused from Arrest in Museum PS Case, Posts Matter for Final Hearing
Justice Jobin Sebastian directed the investigating officer to refrain from coercive action against Sreelekha R until disposal of her criminal miscellaneous petition in Crime No. 205/2026.
The High Court of Kerala, sitting at Ernakulam, on 13 July 2026 passed an interim order protecting Sreelekha R, a 65-year-old resident of Jagathy, Thiruvananthapuram, from arrest in connection with Crime No. 205/2026 registered at Museum Police Station, Thiruvananthapuram. Justice Jobin Sebastian, sitting singly, directed the Investigating Officer to “desist from taking any coercive action” against the petitioner until the disposal of her Criminal Miscellaneous Petition. The court posted the matter on 20 July 2026 as a last chance for hearing, with the second respondent having already entered appearance through counsel.
The Petition and Parties
Sreelekha R approached the High Court by way of Crl.MC No. 2092 of 2026, arising out of Crime No. 205/2026 registered against her at Museum Police Station, Thiruvananthapuram. She is described as aged 65 years, daughter of Radhamma, residing at EVRA 435, Samrudhi, Jagathy, Thiruvananthapuram.
The first respondent is the State of Kerala, represented through the Public Prosecutor at the High Court of Kerala, Ernakulam. The second respondent is R. Jayachandran, aged 66 years, son of K. Ramachandran, and Secretary of the Civil Rights and Social Justice Society (CRSJS), Thiruvananthapuram. The second respondent had filed a vakalath before the matter came up for orders.
Arguments and Representation
The petition was argued before Justice Sebastian on 13 July 2026. Sreelekha R was represented by a team led by Senior Advocate Sasthamangalam S. Ajithkumar, along with Sreejith S. Nair, Satheesh Mohanan, and Mahima. The second respondent was represented by a large team comprising S. Rajeev, V. Vinay, M.S. Aneer, Sarath K.P., K.S. Kiran Krishnan, Anilkumar C.R., Dipa V., T.P. Aravind, Akash Cherian Thomas, Azad Sunil, Maheswar Padickal, and Nivedita Rajeev. The Public Prosecutor appeared for the first respondent, the State.
The court heard arguments from both sides before passing the order. The digest does not disclose the specific offences alleged in Crime No. 205/2026 or the petitioner's substantive grounds for seeking relief.
Order
Justice Jobin Sebastian directed the Investigating Officer of Museum Police Station to refrain from taking any coercive action against Sreelekha R for the pendency of Crl.MC No. 2092 of 2026. The matter was posted to 20 July 2026 as the last chance for a full hearing on the petition.