Manjeswaram election bribery case: BJP Kerala president K. Surendran, other accused skip court appearance
The Hindu
Six accused, including BJP Kerala president K. Surendran, failed to appear in Kasaragod District and Sessions Court for Manjeswaram election bribery case. They filed petition seeking discharge, claiming innocence. Court to hear detailed arguments on October 4. Complaint given by LDF candidate V.V Ramesan. Accused include former BJP district president K. Balakrishna Shetty, Yuva Morcha former State treasurer Sunil Naik, K. Manikanda Rai, Y. Suresh and Lokesh Noda.
The six accused in the Manjeswaram election bribery case, including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kerala president K. Surendran, failed to appear at the Kasaragod District and Sessions Court on September 21.
They failed to appear despite stringent instruction by Kasaragod sessions judge K.K. Balakrishnan who had in the previous hearing directed all the accused to be present on the day.
Meanwhile, Mr. Surendran and the other accused have filed a petition seeking to discharge them in the case. They petitioned that they are innocent and the case was fabricated by the police for political motives. The sessions court will hear the detailed arguments on October 4 after accepting the petition.
The case is that K. Sundara, who was a Bahujan Samaj Party candidate in the Manjeswaram constituency in the 2021 Assembly elections, was bribed and later threatened to withdraw his nomination paper. The accused had been alleged of giving a bribe of ₹2.5 lakh and a mobile phone to him. The court has directed Mr. Sundara too to appear in the case.
The case registered by the Badiadka police was later investigated by a special team led by District Crime Branch DySP A. Satish Kumar and the chargesheet was submitted to the court.
The complaint was given by V.V Ramesan, who was the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate from Manjeswaram in the Assembly election.
Mr. Surendran is the first accused in the case. Former BJP district president K. Balakrishna Shetty, Yuva Morcha former State treasurer Sunil Naik, other party leaders K. Manikanda Rai, Y. Suresh and Lokesh Noda are other accused.
Bombay High Court grants bail to Chetan Patil in Shivaji statue collapse case; sculptor Jaydeep Apte's plea pending.
Deadly rinderpest outbreak devastates Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, highlighting the threat of diseases from domestic cattle to wild populations.
Suryanarkoil Mutt's history, traditions, and leadership succession explained in detail with references and comparisons to other Saivaite Mutts.
Upalokayukta takes action against officials for neglecting century-old Kelageri Tank in Dharwad, setting 20-day deadline for rejuvenation.
On World Fisheries Day, India launches projects for marine and inland aquaculture, aiming to transform the fisheries sector and blue economy.
Lokayukta police raid uncovers ₹26.6 crore in assets from government officials in Karnataka, leading to investigations and cases filed.
Court boycott by advocates in Tamil Nadu demands Advocates Protection Bill for safety, affecting litigants from remote villages.
Army faces allegations of harassment and torture in Kishtwar, Jammu; probe ordered, sparking concerns over human rights violations.
Karnataka’s software and services exports crossed ₹4.11 lakh crore during fiscal 2023-24 (March 2024) from ₹3.2 lakh crore a year ago, marking a 27% year-on-year growth, Minister for IT&BT, Priyank Kharge, said here on Thursday quoting Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) data.
Continuous rainfall in Thoothukudi has caused severe hardship for residents as rainwater has inundated several areas. Efforts to drain stagnant water in the city have been intensified
Indictment details Adani bribery scheme to secure solar power contracts, involving Adani Green Energy and Azure Power executives.