Kochi: Dismissing bail pleas of three CPI(M) local leaders accused in the murder of rebel Marxist leader TP Chandrasekharan, the Kerala High Court on Tuesday observed that incidents of annihilation of political rivals are on the increase.
“After a well hatched conspiracy in such cases, persons are hired to do away with opponents,” Justice P Bhavadasan said while dismissing the bail pleas of P K Kunhanandan, P Mohan and K C Ramachandran, local CPI(M) leaders from Kozhikode.
The court said the possibility of the accused influencing witnesses cannot be ruled out.
Justice Bhavadasan rejected the plea of the accused that 'bail is rule and jail is the exception' and pointed out that this theory cannot be exercised indiscriminately.
Under such circumstances courts are called upon to be careful while considering bail applications, he held.
Such acts cannot be taken lightly and need to be strongly condemned and deprecated, the court observed.
Chandrasekharan, a former CPI-M leader from the party stronghold of Onchiyam in Kozhikode district, was killed at Vallikkad near Vatakara on May 4. He was expelled a few years ago after falling out with the CPI-M leadership and later floated the Revolutionary Marxist Party.
His murder triggered a political storm in the state with Congress and BJP pointing fingers at CPI(M). Several CPI(M) workers have been arrested in connection with the case.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, September 18, 2012, 20:53