Thiruvananthapuram, March 3 (IANS). A court in Kerala’s Kannur on Tuesday rejected the bail pleas of five KSU activists arrested for allegedly attempting to assassinate state Health Minister Veena George.
The Kannur Judicial First Class Magistrate Court dismissed the petition after hearing the arguments of both the parties.
The defense said the incident at Kannur railway station last week was just a black flag protest and the charge of attempt to murder could not be sustained. He argued that no weapon had been recovered and that police had failed to ascertain what, if anything, was used in the alleged attack.
The defense also argued that the minister was said to be unwell and was initially unable to give a statement, but later spoke to television channels. However, the prosecution sought custody of the accused, arguing that more CCTV footage needed to be examined and that more people were involved in the incident.
He argued that a small weapon might have been used and pressure might have been applied on the minister’s neck. Accepting the arguments of the prosecution, the court refused to grant bail. The accused are to be produced again on March 5.
Following the incident on February 25, the minister was first admitted to Kannur District Hospital and later shifted to Pariyaram Kannur Medical College. Later, after spending a day there, she took leave against medical advice and traveled over 350 kilometers in her government vehicle to her home in Pathanamthitta district.
Even during the 2021 assembly election campaign, she was seen wearing a cervical collar, a fact that is now coming to the fore again amid the growing political controversies.
As the assembly elections are approaching, the issue has taken on even more intense political significance, while the legal action is ongoing and many social media trolls are attacking her for ‘fake drama’.
–IANS
PSK
