Thaindian News

Kannur/Kochi, Aug 13 (IANS) CPI-M legislator T.V.Rajesh, an accused in the murder of a Muslim League activist, was Monday remanded in judicial custody till Aug 27 after the Kerala High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea.

Earlier, the court struck a double blow to the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) by dismissing bail pleas of both Rajesh and jailed Kannur district party secretary P.Jayarajan, in the murder of Indian Union Muslim League worker Abdul Shukoor in February this year.

By around 2.15 p.m., after the high court rejected his bail plea, Rajesh surrendered at the Kannur chief judicial magistrate court and it sent him to the Kannur jail.

Later, senior party leader M.V.Jayarajan told reporters that the CPI-M will seek legal recourse and a fresh bail application will be moved Tuesday.

Rajesh, the legislator from Kalliaserry, appeared in good spirits and waved to his party supporters before being taken to the Kannur jail.

The Kerala High Court also denied bail to Kannur district party secretary P. Jayarajan, who is in judicial custody for his alleged involvement in Shukoor’s murder. He was arrested Aug 1.

Jayarajan’s counsel Aug 4 moved a bail plea at the Kannur chief judicial magistrate court and when it was rejected, he moved the high court, which too rejected it Monday.

Soon after Jayarajan’s arrest, Rajesh sensing arrest moved the high court for anticipatory bail. But the court denied it too. More than two dozen people belonging to the CPI-M and its affiliates have been arrested in the murder of the 21-year-old Shukoor.

Shukoor was allegedly murdered in retaliation for an attack by suspected Muslim League workers on Jayarajan and CPI-M leader T.V.Rajesh.

The Indian Union Muslim League is the second biggest constituent of the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front.

Reacting to the court ruling, former health minister and CPI-M central committee member P.K. Sreemathi said that one is baffled by the way things are shaping up because there is no evidence to link Jayarajan in this case. “This is cruel,” said Sreemathi.