Kerala High Court acquits KPCC president K Sudhakaran in 1995 EP Jayarajan murder attempt case

Sudhakaran was accused of hatching a conspiracy to murder Jayarajan in a train in 1995. The incident took place in Andhra Pradesh. Jayarajan had suffered bullet injury in the firing inside the train.

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president in Kerala K Sudhakaran has been acquitted in a conspiracy to murder CPI(M) leader E P Jayarajan in 1995.

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday allowed a discharge petition filed by Sudhakaran, who is now a Lok Sabha MP. 

The incident pertaining to the case took place at Chirala area in Andhra Pradesh. Jayarajan, who was then CPI(M) Kannur district secretary, had suffered bullet injury in the firing inside a train on April 11, 1995. Though he survived the attack, he is said to be still carrying the bullet in his body.

The Andhra police registered a case and conducted investigation. One of the accused was convicted under Arms Act in the case, while another died before the trial. Though Jayarajan was arraigned in the case, he was not charge-sheeted.

Subsequently Jayarajan filed a petition in Thiruvananthapuram seeking a probe citing that the conspiracy was hatched in Thiruvananthapuram. Sudhakaran's discharge petition against it was earlier rejected by a trial court. Hence he approached the HC and got an order in his favour on Tuesday.  The HC observed that since a case in connection with the conspiracy was already registered in Andhra and a probe was conducted, a second FIR on the same offence could not be justified.

Jayarajan, who is now Left Democratic Front convenor, reacted that he will file an appeal against the HC order. He also said that the real target of Sudhakaran was Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Sudhakaran reacted that CPI(M)'s attempt to frame him as a criminal was foiled by the court.