Kerala govt under fire for ‘secret’ move to release Kodi Suni, gang, ignoring jail report

Kannur: The Kerala government came under fire after documents revealed that the Prisons Department initiated steps to consider the release of Kodi Suni and his gang members, convicts in the murder of RMP leader TP Chandrasekharan. The department took the move by ignoring a report by the Superintendent of Kannur Central Jail, which accused them of smuggling and selling narcotics inside the prison.

The superintendent’s report, submitted to the Thalassery Sessions Court on August 5, along with an application seeking the transfer of Kodi Suni, one of the convicts in the murder, to the Thavanoor Central Jail, detailed these activities. Copies of the report were also forwarded to the Director General of Prisons and the DIG (North Zone).

However, the latest move by the Prisons Department appears to disregard this report, a document officially on record with the court.

The superintendent’s report further stated that though Suni had been granted a 15-day parole on the condition that he remain within the Meenangadi police station limits, he violated the directive by entering the Kenichira police station area. Acting on this violation, the police arrested him and brought him back to jail. The report also noted that three police personnel were suspended for facilitating the consumption of alcohol by Suni while escorting him back from the Thalassery court. As many as ten of his co-accused are also lodged in the same jail, the report added. Based on this report, an order was issued to shift Suni to the Thavanoor Jail.

Meanwhile, the Prisons Department has launched an internal probe into the leak of a confidential letter that sought the opinion of the superintendents of the Kannur Central Jail and the Viyyur High-Security Prison regarding the potential security implications of releasing the convicts in the T P murder case. The investigation follows Malayala Manorama’s publication of the letter.

To prevent further leaks, the department dispatched these letters directly to the jail superintendents through messengers. No copies of these letters were given to the subordinate offices.

Director General of Prisons Balram Kumar Upadhyay clarified that the letter was part of a `usual procedure'. However, questions as to why similar procedures are not being followed in the case of other prisoners have gone unanswered.

K K Rema, MLA and wife of the slain RMP leader T P Chandrasekharan, described the letter from the Prisons Department as “unusual and mysterious.”

“It is not the jail superintendents but the police who would be aware of any potential security issues if these convicts are released,” Rema said. She alleged that the convicts in the T P murder case continue to receive special treatment  and  cited the example of accused T K Rajeesh, who was granted 45 days of leave for ‘rejuvenation therapy.’

“These convicts get parole promptly, enjoy rejuvenation treatments and have access to alcohol and food of their choice. The attempt now seems to be to release them before the end of this government’s term,” Rema alleged.