P.JAYARAJAN’S BAIL PETITION REJECTED

P.JAYARAJAN’S BAIL PETITION REJECTED

:The First Class Judicial Magistrate Court-1 on Saturday4th August,2012, rejected the bail application of Communist Party of India (Marxist) Kannur district secretary P. Jayarajan who has been arrested in connection with the Abdul Shukkoor murder case.Magistrate C. Mujeeb Rahiman dismissed the bail petition filed on August 2 by the CPI(M) district secretary, accepting the contention of the Special Public Prosecutor that the release of Mr. Jayarajan at this stage would affect the ongoing investigation. The hearing on the bail petition filed through his counsel, B.P. Saseendran, had been completed on August 3.Pronouncing the order, the magistrate dismissed the petition saying that the petitioner was not entitled to get the bail as prayed for. He said considering the larger interests of society and the nature and seriousness of the offence, circumstances that are peculiar to the petitioner and reasonable apprehension of witnesses about the case being tampered with, he was not inclined to exercise the discretion in favour of the petitioner at this stage of the investigation. In the order, Mr. Rahiman said the investigation in the case was progressing and several accused were yet to be arrested.

Citing reports about incidents of violence that had occurred in protest against the arrest of the petitioner, destruction of properties valued at lakhs of rupees and attacks on several public servants by the protesters, the order also noted the contention of Special Public Prosecutor C.K. Sreedharan that the arrest of the petitioner had resulted in widespread violence throughout the State and these incidents revealed the influence of the petitioner and his capability to influence the investigation.Referring to the prosecutor’s argument that if the petitioner was released on bail, it would certainly affect the smooth investigation of the case, the order said the contention that the petitioner was powerful enough to intimidate persons acquainted with the facts of the case could not be discarded. Mr. Jayarajan’s counsel said a bail petition would be filed in the High Court on Monday.

Jayarajan, Communist Party of India-Marxist's (CPI-M) Kannur district secretary, was held Wednesday and sent to a two-week custody in connection with the murder of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) worker Abdul Shukoor in February.Opposing the bail plea, the special public prosecutor told the court Jayarajan should not be given bail since investigations were still on.Jayarajan's counsel said the charges under which the Marxist leader was arrested are those where a bail could be easily given.Police have already arrested more than 12 CPI-M activists in the case.The 39th accused in the case, CPI-M legislator T.V

                                            Prof. John Kurakar