Uma Thomas incident: HC issues interim stay on proceedings against third accused

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday issued an interim stay for a month on further proceedings against one of those who had been arraigned as accused in the attempt to commit culpable homicide case that had been registered after Uma Thomas, MLA, suffered serious injuries after falling down from a stage at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium here in December 2024.

The case was being heard by the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Ernakulam.

Ms. Thomas was attending an event held at the stadium when the incident took place, and the Palarivattom police had registered a case. The prosecution alleged that the petitioner (Janeesh P.S., the third accused) — the person who was tasked with the responsibility of event management — had entrusted the stage work to another person, who was the fifth accused in the case. The petitioner further contended that he did not organise the event, nor did he issue instructions to put up a stage from which Ms. Thomas fell down, and sought an order quashing the first information report against him.

Admitting the plea, a Bench of Justice C.S. Dias issued notice to the parties concerned.