Prominent CPI (M) leaders, including P Jayarajan and MV Jayarajan, welcomed the released leaders outside the jail.
Published Jan 09, 2025 | 12:48 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 09, 2025 | 4:49 PM
Kerala High Court. (iStock)
Four CPI (M) leaders, who were convicts in the Periya double murder case, including former MLA KV Kunhiraman, Raghavan Velutholi, K Manikandan, and KV Bhaskaran, were released from Kannur Central Jail on Thursday, 9 January after the Kerala High Court suspended their sentence, convicted under Section 225 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The case pertains to the murder and conspiracy behind the killings of Youth Congress workers Kripesh (21) and Sarathlal PK (24) nearly six years ago.
The leaders, convicted by a CBI special court for forcibly rescuing an accused, were freed after the high court’s order was delivered to the jail authorities.
The accused— K V Kunhiraman (A20), Manikandan (A14), Raghavan Velutholi (A21), and KV Bhaskaran (A22)— had been sentenced to five years of imprisonment and fined ₹10,000 each by the Special CBI Court in Kochi.
After their conviction, the four leaders were taken into custody, and their bail was revoked. They were subsequently lodged in Kannur Central Prison.
However, the accused later approached the Kerala High Court, seeking to overturn their conviction. The verdict was delivered by a division bench comprising Justices PB Suresh Kumar and Jobin Sebastian.
The convicts had filed an appeal, arguing that even if the allegations against them were true, the offence would fall under the first part of Section 225, which carries a maximum punishment of two years imprisonment.
The division bench cited a recent Supreme Court ruling that mandates suspending sentences when an appeal is unlikely to be heard before the sentence is completed.
The court observed that cases of accused persons in custody since 2018 are currently being prioritized for hearing, making it improbable for the appeal to be addressed before the applicants serve their full term.
“It has been this Court’s practice to suspend sentences in similar cases, and we see no reason to deviate from this approach,” the bench noted in its order.
Prominent CPI (M) leaders, including P Jayarajan and MV Jayarajan, welcomed the released leaders outside the jail.
Kunhiraman later told the media, “The high court’s decision has exposed the lies surrounding this case and reaffirmed our faith in the justice system. There was no conspiracy; our names were added solely because we are party leaders.”
At the same time, P Jayarajan accused the CBI of pursuing a political agenda to tarnish the CPI (M)’s image.
“The LDF government opposed handing this case to the CBI. The Crime Branch had conducted a thorough investigation and identified the accused. However, the CBI disregarded this and later included CPI (M) leaders to serve their agenda. The Division Bench’s decision proves their strategy failed,” he stated.
CPI (M) state secretary MV Govindan clarified on Thursday that the party had no knowledge or involvement in the sequence of events leading to the Periya double murder case.
Addressing the media, Govindan stated that while a series of incidents had occurred, no one within the party foresaw that it would escalate to murder.
He asserted that the Kerala police conducted a proper investigation into the case. However, he accused political opponents of attempting to politicize the issue and falsely portray it as a conspiracy by the CPI(M).
Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan has strongly criticized the CPI (M) for publicly welcoming convicts in the Periya double murder case.
Referring to the CPI (M)’s actions as sending a “vile message” to the younger generation, Satheesan questioned the morality of a ruling party embracing individuals sentenced to double life imprisonment for a heinous crime.
“The CPI (M) is setting a dangerous precedent by welcoming murder convicts at the jail gates and consoling them in prison,” said Satheesan.
He pointed out the stark contrast between the party’s behaviour and the traditional practice of honouring those released after participating in political struggles.
“By celebrating those convicted of murder, the CPI (M) is signalling that such crimes have the party’s backing, which could have devastating consequences for the values instilled in the growing generation. They will regret this in the near future,” he added.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from V Dileep Kumar)
