Kerala High Court refuses to stay proceedings in 2015 assembly brawl case
India Today
The Kerala High Court has refused to stay further proceedings in the 2015 assembly ruckus case.
In the infamous 2015 Kerala Assembly brawl case, the high court declined to stay further proceedings and also denied permission to each accused to abstain from appearing before the court. The accused include current Education Minister V Sivankutty and MLA KT Jaleel. All 6 accused in the case have been asked to appear before the court on September 14.
The case in hand relates to unprecedented scenes in the Kerala Legislative Assembly in March 2015. Six LDF (Left Democratic Front) members, of the then opposition, allegedly attempted to stop then Finance Minister K M Mani from presenting the budget.
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The ruckus ensued as the minister in concern was facing charges in the bar bribery case. Allegations include that the opposition hurled the Speaker's chair and damaged electronic pieces of equipment around the Speaker, N Shakthan's, chair. Subsequently, a criminal case was filed against six MLAs for damaging public property and interrupting the proceedings of the Assembly.
The stand-off reportedly went on for three hours and the minister was able to present the budget only after security was tightened and provided by UDF (United Democratic Front) MLAs.