The Alappuzha District and Sessions Court on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail to five security personnel, including the chief gunman of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in connection with the controversial “rescue operation” assault case.
District and Sessions Judge Honey M. Varghese granted anticipatory bail to all five accused security personnel — S. Anilkumar (Anil Kalliyoor), S. Sandeep, V.V. Vipin, R. Arun and V.K. Shyju.
The court granted relief after finding that the non-bailable charges, including attempt to commit culpable homicide, added by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), did not prima facie withstand judicial scrutiny.
The case relates to an incident during the 2023 Nava Kerala Sadas programme in Alappuzha, when activists of the Youth Congress and the Kerala Students Union (KSU) staged a black-flag protest.
Members of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s security team allegedly stepped out of their escort vehicles and assaulted protesters, including current Alappuzha MLA A.D. Thomas and Youth Congress leader Ajay Juel Kuriakose, using lathis.
At the time, Pinarayi Vijayan defended the actions of the security personnel, describing them as a necessary “rescue operation” undertaken to protect his life.
However, the SIT, constituted after the UDF government assumed office and ordered a fresh probe into the case, reportedly rejected that defence in its findings. According to the investigation report, local police personnel had already cordoned off and contained the protesters, leaving no operational necessity for the Chief Minister’s personal security team to intervene.
The SIT further concluded that the accused personnel were not authorised to carry or use lathis and alleged that blows directed at the heads of protesters indicated a serious intent to cause grievous harm.
Although the Alappuzha Magistrate Court had ordered a reinvestigation on November 8, 2024, after rejecting a Crime Branch report that had exonerated the accused security personnel, the matter remained pending under the previous administration.
Following its assumption of power, the UDF government ordered a fresh investigation into the incident, popularly known as the “rescue operation” case. Consequently, the Kerala Police constituted a six-member SIT headed by Alappuzha Crime Branch Superintendent of Police A.P. Shoukathali to reinvestigate the events that took place during the Nava Kerala Sadas programme in Alappuzha.
Responding to the court’s order, Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the government would examine the verdict before deciding on its next course of action.
There are indications that the SIT may approach the Kerala High Court challenging the anticipatory bail granted by the Alappuzha District and Sessions Court.