The Kerala High Court on Friday rejected the anticipatory bail application of fake lawyer Sessy Xavier, who was booked by police for impersonation in Alappuzha court.
A single-judge bench of Justice V. Shircy directed Xavier to surrender before the investigating officer and said that she could be arrested if she did not surrender.
The FIR registered against Xavier had charged her under Sections 417 and 419 of the IPC, both bailable offences.
Subsequently, offences punishable under Sections 420 IPC was added, which is a non-bailable offence. The police filed the case after it became clear that Sessy Xavier had not obtained a law degree. The police action was on a complaint filed by the Alappuzha Bar Association.
Xavier had caught the attention of the state after having managed to practice as an advocate after enrolling with the State Bar Council without even qualifying for the LL.B degree.
Reports said she even contested Bar Association elections this year and was elected as librarian.
Also Read: Supreme Court issues notice in Gujarat PSU plea against Adani Power’s termination of PPA
The deception came to light after the Bar Association received an anonymous letter on July 15 alleging that Xavier did not possess the requisite LL.B degree or an enrolment certificate.
Sessy Xavier said, in her preliminary bail application, that the charge of fraud against her will not stand and that she did not act in disguise and was cheated by friends.
While the police were looking for her to arrest her, Xavier attempted to surrender before the magistrate in Alappuzha assuming that she would be released on bail. However, upon realising that she was charged with non-bailable offences, she fled the courtroom and approached the High Court for anticipatory bail.