Swiss national's bail petition to be heard on Aug 8

The Kerala High Court today posted to August 8 the bail application moved by Swiss national Jonathan Baud who was arrested last week after he allegedly attended a meeting held in memory of a Maoist in Valappad in Thrissur district.
When the bail plea came up before Justice Abraham Mathew, he posted it to Aug 8.
His bail plea in a lower court was earlier rejected.
Baud, 24, claimed he had not committed any crime as alleged by police and he was innocent.
The case against him was registered alleging he had violated conditions of visa.
According to the petitioner, he was doing Masters level Economics course in University of Geneva and was keenly interest in history, economics, besides being an avid reader.

He also produced various documents to prove his credentials.

The petitioner contended he was the only foreigner to have watched the meeting at Kodungallur. The representatives, details of whom he was not aware of, enquired about his identity and he informed he was on a visit to the country.
This incident was 'twisted' by the investigating authority leading to the registration of the case under Section 14 (b) of the Foreigners Act, he stated.
According to police, the petitioner, who arrived in Kerala on a tourist visa, attended the meeting organised on July 28 in memory of Sinoj, a Maoist activist from the state, who was killed while making country bombs in Andhra-Karnataka border last month. Sinoj belonged to Valappad.

Police claimed some Maoist literature had been recovered from him.
He arrived in Kerala on July 10 with a woman companion and had visited Kannur and other parts of the state before reaching Thrissur on July 28.