ED attack case: Court denies bail to five CPM activists; Kerala Police hunt 200 more suspects

The Thiruvananthapuram Judicial First Class Magistrate Court on Saturday denied bail to five CPM workers who were arrested in connection with the violent attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials while they were returning from a raid at the Thiruvananthapuram residence of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with the CMRL-Exalogic financial transaction case.

The court rejected the bail applications of CPM workers Nithinraj, Manoj, Jeevan, Sreejith and Shaheen, observing that attacking officials of a central agency while they are discharging their duties is a highly serious offence. The court also noted that the investigation remains in its crucial initial stage.

Advertisement

According to investigators, a crowd of around 300 alleged CPM workers ambushed the ED team as they were leaving the raid location. Armed with sticks, stones and bricks, the attackers targeted the officials’ vehicles, resulting in injuries to several officers and drivers and causing an estimated ₹3 lakh worth of damage to the vehicles.

The Museum Police have registered a case against around 300 individuals allegedly involved in the incident under stringent provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 109 (Attempt to Murder), unlawful assembly, rioting and obstructing public servants from performing their duties. Provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act have also been invoked.

The ongoing police operation has led to the arrest of 25 individuals so far, including political activists and former city corporation councillors such as IP Binu and Unnikrishnan. Police have prepared a detailed list of suspects and are actively conducting a manhunt to apprehend approximately 200 more individuals identified as active participants in the violent attack.