SIT to record statements of AD Thomas MLA, Ajay Kuriakose in Nava Kerala Sadas case
An SIT will question Alappuzha MLA A D Thomas and Youth Congress leader Ajay Juel Kuriakose regarding an assault during a government outreach programme. Preliminary findings suggest a coordinated attempt to sabotage the original investigation.
An SIT will question Alappuzha MLA A D Thomas and Youth Congress leader Ajay Juel Kuriakose regarding an assault during a government outreach programme. Preliminary findings suggest a coordinated attempt to sabotage the original investigation.
An SIT will question Alappuzha MLA A D Thomas and Youth Congress leader Ajay Juel Kuriakose regarding an assault during a government outreach programme. Preliminary findings suggest a coordinated attempt to sabotage the original investigation.
Alappuzha: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) will record statements on Saturday from Alappuzha MLA A D Thomas and Youth Congress State General Secretary Ajay Juel Kuriakose, who were assaulted during the Nava Kerala Sadas outreach programme, allegedly by gunmen of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The six-member SIT, led by Crime Branch S P Shoukath Ali and DySP Baiju Paulose as the investigating officer, was constituted soon after the United Democratic Front (UDF) government under Chief Minister V D Satheesan assumed office. The team has already questioned former police and Crime Branch officials who had initially handled the case and cleared it.
Preliminary findings by the SIT reportedly indicate a coordinated effort by higher authorities during the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) regime to sabotage the original investigation. Initial inquiry files by then-Alappuzha DSP Sunil Raj noted the existence of video evidence showing the assault. However, the report was later altered to claim that 'no video evidence was available', allegedly after the investigating officer was summoned twice to the office of the then-ADGP (Law and Order) in Thiruvananthapuram.
On Friday, the SIT interrogated former investigating officers and sub-inspectors to map out the alleged bureaucratic manipulation.
The case dates back to December 15, 2023, during the LDF government’s Nava Kerala Sadas. At General Hospital Junction in Alappuzha, KSU activists and Youth Congress waved black flags in protest against the government.
While local police were restraining the protesters, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s security officer Anil Kumar and gunman Sandeep S jumped out of the Chief Minister’s escort vehicle armed with batons, beating the protesters. Pinarayi Vijayan later defended the actions of his security personnel, calling it a 'rescue operation' to protect his life.
A case was registered after Thomas and Kuriakose approached the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Alappuzha. The case was later transferred to the Crime Branch. In October 2024, the Crime Branch submitted a final report giving the security personnel a clean chit, claiming they were fulfilling their duties.