Keeping Madani in prison without trial not acceptable: Chandy

As the BJP objected to his government's reported move to facilitate bail for jailed PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani, an accused in the 2008 Bangalore serial blasts case, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said keeping him in prison indefinitely without trial was not correct.

The state government's view was that 'It is not correct to keep Madani or any person in prison indefinitely without trial,' he told reporters here responding to questions.

He, however, prefaced his comments saying: 'I am not going into the merit of the case against Madani', now in prison in Karnataka.

It was also not proper to interfere in the judicial process, Chandy said adding the case was now going on in an another state.

He said the state government would reply to Supreme Court if its opinion on the bail plea of Madani was sought.

Earlier, BJP state unit has strongly protested government's move to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court, favouring the bail plea of PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani.

In a statement here, BJP spokesman V V Rajesh said the state government was planning to give an undertaking to the apex court that it would present Madani in the Bangalore court for trial whenever necessary if he was granted bail.

BJP would launch a strong agitation if the government decided to give such an affidavit in the Supreme Court to enable Madani to get bail, Rajesh said.

He said the ruling UDF was wary of PDP's plan to field Madani in the Ponnani Lok Sabha seat in Malappuram District in the coming elections. The government was trying to help Madani in the Court to avoid such a situation which would affect the winning prospects of the UDF, he alleged.