KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Saturday granted regular bail to Liviya Jose, a 21-year-old woman accused of conspiring to implicate beautician Sheela Sunny in a fabricated narcotics case.
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas observed that, given her age and the period of custody already undergone, further detention was not necessary.
The case traces back to February 27, 2023, when Excise officials conducted a surprise search at Sunny's beauty parlour near here and allegedly recovered what they claimed were LSD stamps from her handbag and scooter.
She was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and spent 72 days in jail, facing social stigma and the loss of her livelihood.
However, subsequent chemical analysis revealed that the seized material did not contain LSD.
In 2023, the High Court quashed the FIR against Sunny, accepting a report by the Assistant Excise Commissioner which confirmed the contraband was misidentified.
Investigations later revealed that the case was the result of a conspiracy.
Jose, the sister of Sunny's daughter-in-law, allegedly masterminded the plan to frame her.
According to police, Narayana Das, who was arrested in April this year, had tipped off the Excise Department, but under the influence of Jose.