THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A lower court of Kerala state on Wednesday, September 14, read out the charges against State Education Minister V Sivankutty and four other leaders of their involvement in vandalism in the floor of the Assembly in 2015.
The Assembly had seen violent scenes in March 2015, after the then Left opposition tried to avert the then Finance Minister K M Mani from presenting the Budget, alleging his role in the bar bribery case.
Of the 6 accused, Sivankutty and KT Jaleel are members of the present Assembly. Jaleel is a former minister, whilst Sivankutty is the state's current minister of education. Convenor of the Left Democratic Front E P Jayarajan, C.K. Sadasivan, K Master, and K Sadasivan Ajith (all four were legislators between 2011-16). (all four were legislators during 2011-16).
With the exception of Jayarajan, everyone else was present on Wednesday when the charge sheet was read out accusing them of participating in the vandalism that resulted in a loss of Rs 2.50 lakh to the premises on the Assembly floor.
All five people in attendance denied engaging in such behaviour, and Jayarajan's attorney claimed the defendant was ill and taking a break at his home in Kannur.
While granting the leave for Jayarajan, the court asked him to be present on September 26 when his charge sheet would be read and the full trial schedule would be released.
By the way, the Kerala government had previously petitioned the Supreme Court to order the criminal cases against these six leaders to be dropped, but the high court determined that there was no immunity or privilege for lawmakers who engaged in mischief during a House session. All of them had been ordered to stand trial by the top court.
With this, there was a political uproar, with the Congress and the BJP calling for Sivankutty's resignation, which the CPI-M flatly denied.
Each of them has been accused of violating the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and other laws.
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