KADAKKAL: Kadakkal Edathara native Akhil Ashok (42) was incarcerated in Poojappura Central Jail for four days due to one major error committed by court staff. The Varkala Magistrate Court staff issued a conviction warrant against Akhil without checking the records of his earlier conviction in the family feud case.

In 2004, the Varkala police registered a case against Akhil and his mother S. Salila in a fight with his father. In 2007, the Varkala Magistrate Court sentenced both of them to three months imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5000. On appeal, the High Court increased the fine to Rs 20,000 and spared the imprisonment. Instead, both of them were sentenced to stay in court for a full day. Both mother and son served the punishment and on the very next day paid the fine in Varkala court.

Without checking these documents, the staff prepared a conviction warrant and handed it over to the police through the Magistrate, on the grounds that he had not served the sentence awarded in 2007.

The Varkala police arrested Akhil Ashok last Friday afternoon at the hotel where he works as a manager. The police forces also reached his Kadakkal residence to arrest his mother Salila but had to drop the plan minding the ailing health of the senile. All attempts went in vain as the court was closed on Saturday and Sunday and the relatives had to wait till Monday to submit the copy of the old judgment from the High Court to the Varkala court. The Varkala Magistrate then issued a release warrant. Akhil was released from jail on Tuesday evening.