Media gag order
Another source told
Gulf News that based on the court hearing, the Kerala High Court had issued an order at that time that strict action would be taken against media channels and police officers if news about extra-judicial confessions to the police or other information obtained during the investigation was reported.
The court’s order came on a bail plea (BA No. 5390/2020, a copy of the court proceeding has been obtained by Gulf News) filed by Koodathayi serial murders accused Jollyamma Joseph, in the case of the murder of her mother-in-law Annamma Thomas in August 2002. The court granted bail to her after holding that it cannot take into consideration the extra-judicial confession while hearing the bail application. The court also, however, noted that Jolly had to remain in prison as she had been denied bail in other cases.