Supreme Court Makes Absolute Bail of 5 RSS Workers Accused in PFI Leader Shan’s Murder in Kerala

The murder of Shan on December 18, 2021, allegedly carried out by RSS members, was said to be a retaliatory act following the killing of an RSS worker by SDPI activists. Shan was attacked while returning home on his motorcycle.

The Bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice AG Masih set aside the High Court order cancelling their bail pleas.

The Court pronounced the order in the appeals challenging the Kerala High Court’s December 2024 order that had quashed bail granted by the Sessions Court in 2022.

Senior Advocates Soumya Chakraborty, Nachiketa Joshi and Ruchi Kohli appeared for the accused and Senior Advocate PV Dinesh appeared for the State of Kerala.

It is to be noted that on August 12, the Bench after hearing the counsels at length had reserved order in the case. 

Previously, in May 2025, the Bench had granted interim bail to to the five accused. The Court had noted that bail had remained unchallenged for two years and the State had not shown any violation of bail conditions.

Notably, on December 11, 2024, the High Court had set aside the bail granted to five RSS workers accused in the murder of set aside the bail granted to five RSS workers accused in the murder of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) leader Shan in Alappuzha. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas delivered the order while hearing the State government’s plea challenging the Sessions Court’s decision that had granted bail to all ten accused in the case.

The Court, however, upheld the bail of the remaining five accused. Shan, an SDPI leader, was killed on December 18, 2021, when he was attacked at Kuppezham Junction in Mannancherry, Alappuzha, while returning home on his motorcycle.SDPI leader Shan in Alappuzha. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas had delivered the order while hearing the State government’s plea challenging the Sessions Court’s decision that had granted bail to all ten accused in the case.

The Court, however, upheld the bail of the remaining five accused. Shan, an SDPI leader, was killed on December 18, 2021, when he was attacked at Kuppezham Junction in Mannancherry, Alappuzha, while returning home on his motorcycle.