Cronin Alexander Baby (right) was remanded in police custody for 14 days by the Ernakulam magistrate court in Mishel death case. Photo: EV Srikumar/OnmanoramaKochi: Cronin Alexander Baby, who was arrested on charges of abetting the suicide of Chartered Accountancy student Mishel Shaji, has been granted bail.
The Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court, which also deals with cases on atrocities against women and children, accepted the bail plea of Cronin on Wednesday, while asking him not to leave the district.
Suicide theory strengthens: no poison or chemical substance found in Mishel's body
Mishel left her hostel on March 5 to go to the church and was reported to be missing since. The 18-year-old was found dead near the Ernakulam wharf the next day.
The police had arrested Cronin, who was in a relationship with Mishel, on charges of abetment of suicide. Mishel's friends had alleged that Cronin frequently harassed Mishel. He was also slapped with charges under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) for harassing her when she was a minor.
The police are yet to stumble upon any solid evidence to prove that the 18-year-old was murdered. The investigating team had earlier said that Mishel could have killed herself by jumping off the Goshree bridge.
A chemical analysis report too had failed to throw up any major revelations. The test could not find any poison or chemical substance inside Mishel's body. The report further stated that there were no indications of sexual assault either.
