Five Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leaders, including Koothattukulam area secretaryP.B. Ratheesh, municipal chairperson K.P. Vijayakumari, vice chairperson Sunny Kuriakose, councillor Suma Vishwambharan, and local committee secretary Febeesh George, who were accused of abducting party councillor Kala Raju, have moved an anticipatory bail before the Ernakulam Sessions Court.
At the same time, the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Muvattupuzha, on Thursday (January 23) granted bail to the other four accused, who were arrested and remanded in judicial custody in connection with the case.
In their anticipatory bail plea, the accused, who denied the charges, said Ms. Raju had raised false allegations against them after being influenced by United Democratic Front (UDF) workers and councillors. The CPI(M) leaders maintained that Ms. Raju had appeared in front of the Koothattukulam municipal office at the time of the alleged offence. She reportedly visited the party office after being asked to be there for a discussion and later left for her home, they argued. The case was registered against the four as part of an attempt to defame the CPI(M), they alleged.
Those who were released on bail included CPI(M) Chellakkappady branch secretary Arun V. Mohan and party activists Tony Baby, Rinse Varghese, and Sajith Abraham.
Meanwhile, the UDF has accused the police of going slow on arresting the prime accused. “It was the police ploy all along so that the key accused can secure anticipatory bail,” alleged Ernakulam district Congress committee president Mohammed Shiyas.
The Congress is set to organise protests across 28 centres under the aegis of as many block committees against the CPI(M)’s alleged atrocities against a woman and butchering of democracy, on January 29.
Mr. Shiyas said the party would accord political and legal protection to Ms. Raju. “We will help her move a criminal petition against the CPI(M) area committee member Sunny Kuriakose, who she had levelled allegations against in her letter to the CPI(M) State and district committees,” he added.
