Kochi: Kerala High Court on Tuesday quashed the FIR registered against Swiss national Jonathan Baud who was arrested alleging Maoist connection for attending a commemoration ceremony of Sinoj, a Maoist in Thrissur.
Justice P. Ubaid criticised the police for registering a case without any substance. The court also asked the police to take immediate steps to facilitate the travel of Baud to his native country.
Baud was arrested based on an Intelligence Bureau input on July 28 on the charges of violations under section 14(b) of the Foreigners’ Act. He later challenged the case before Kerala High Court.
The court observed, “I find no such rule in the Foreigner Act prohibiting a foreigner from attending a meeting in the country.” It said the continuance of proceedings against Jonathan would be a sheer abuse of legal process.
Baud would stand released from prosecution, the court said and cancelled the bail bond executed by him. Baud is currently on bail but is still in the state after the trial court asked him to surrender his passport.
