Kerala High Court Stays FIR Against US Citizens for Drone Flying in Defence Zone
The Kerala High Court has issued an interim order staying an FIR against two U.S. citizens accused of flying drones near sensitive military installations in Fort Kochi, including the Coast Guard headquarters and INS Dronacharya. The court noted that the charges were filed under the Aircraft Act, 1934, which has been repealed and replaced by the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024. The stay order remains in effect for two months while the court considers the petitioners' case for quashing the criminal proceedings.
The Kerala High Court, through Justice C.S. Dias, has granted an interim stay on an FIR registered against Katie Michelle Phelps and Christopher Ross Harvey at Fort Kochi police station. The two U.S. citizens were accused of flying a drone in a red zone near sensitive defence installations, specifically the Coast Guard headquarters and INS Dronacharya, a gunnery and missile training establishment. A key factor in the court's decision was that the offences were charged under the Aircraft Act, 1934, legislation that has since been repealed and replaced by the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024. The Single Bench found that the petitioners had made out a prima facie case for quashing the criminal proceedings. The stay order is effective for two months, during which the court will consider the full petition.
What's missing
The specific circumstances of how the drone flight occurred, whether it was intentional or accidental, and what the petitioners' stated purpose was for flying the drone are not detailed in the article.
What different sources said
- The HinduCenter
Kerala HC stays FIR against US citizens for flying drones in defence zone
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