Kochi, August 18: The Kerala High Court delivered a significant setback to the CPI(M)-led LDF on Tuesday by dismissing the case against four former UDF legislators related to the 2015 Assembly ruckus. These leaders were accused of assaulting and misbehaving with leftist legislators during the tumultuous events in the Assembly.
Following this ruling, legal proceedings against LDF leaders concerning damage to public property will continue, while the counter-case against UDF leaders has been completely dropped.
The High Court acquitted the former legislators K. Shivadasan Nair, M.A. Wahid, Dominic Presentation, and A.T. George. It also overturned a magistrate court’s order that had directed them to face trial.
This case stemmed from allegations that LDF female legislators K.K. Lathika and Jamila Prakasham were obstructed, mistreated, and had their dignity violated during the Assembly chaos.
Police had filed charges under sections 341, 323, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), with K. Shivadasan Nair named as the main accused and the other three as co-accused.
The High Court stated that the allegations of violating women’s dignity were not substantiated and that there was insufficient legal basis to proceed with the case.
The court also annulled the earlier magistrate court order that deemed the case worthy of hearing.
This ruling is politically significant as the counter-case against the four UDF leaders emerged while several LDF leaders were accused in a major public property damage case.
The original incident occurred on March 13, 2015, when LDF legislators staged a vigorous protest in the Assembly to prevent then Finance Minister K.M. Mani from presenting the budget.
During this protest, damage was inflicted on the Speaker’s chair, and computers, chairs, microphones, and other equipment were vandalized, resulting in substantial losses to government property.
Six prominent LDF leaders—V. Shivan Kutty, E.P. Jayarajan, K.T. Jaleel, K. Ajith, K. Kunhammed Master, and C.K. Sadashivan—remain accused in this case.
The LDF government had approached the Supreme Court to withdraw the ongoing cases against its leaders, but the apex court rejected this request with stern remarks.
After the LDF came to power, the Crime Branch advanced the case against the four UDF leaders, which was viewed as a political countermeasure against the ongoing trials of LDF leaders.
UDF leaders have claimed they are being scapegoated to mitigate the impact of allegations against the ruling coalition’s leaders. The High Court’s recent decision has effectively concluded this matter.
Consequently, the political dynamics surrounding the Assembly ruckus case have shifted. UDF leaders are now free from this case, while LDF leaders will still have to face court proceedings regarding the main issue.
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