The Kerala CPI(M), which is often accused by critics of pursuing politics of violence, has once again been pushed to a difficult situation with the CBI arresting three of its functionaries and an aide of a Marxist Minister in the case pertaining to the brutal murder of Congress leader Ramabhadran (46) in the southern Kollam district more than six years ago. Another CPI(M) leader accused of involvement in the murder is said to be absconding.
The Central agency on Wednesday recorded the arrest of S Jayamohan, a member of the CPI(M)’s Kollam district secretariat, in the Ramabhadran murder case. He was released on bail later. The CBI had arrested CPI(M)’s Kollam district committee member K Babu Panicker, DYFI leader Riyas and Maxon, a former SFI leader and a member of the personal staff of Fisheries Minister J Mercykutty Amma, on Tuesday.
A court in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday remanded Panicker, Riyas and Maxon in judicial custody till December 6. The CBI told the court that Riyas and Maxon had direct connection with the murder of Ramabhadran. Jayamohan was arrested for arranging place for the other accused to hide. It is said that ten persons could be named as accused in the case.
Opposition leader in the Assembly, Ramesh Chennithala of the Congress, wanted Mercykutty Amma to expel Maxon from her staff but she said action could be taken only after examining the matter in detail. CPI(M)’s Kollam district secretary KN Balagopal said the CBI’s action against the party functionaries was politically motivated.
Ramabhadran of Nettayam, Anchal, who was vice-president of the Congress in Eroor Mandalam and president of the INTUC there, was hacked to death by a gang in front of his wife and children at his house on the night of April 10, 2010. The local police had concluded that he was killed for ensuring bail to those arrested in a case relating to a clash during a temple festival in the area.
The case was initially handled by the local police under the supervision of the then Kollam police chief and they had arrested 16 persons including a local committee secretary of the CPI(M). The case was later handed over to the Crime Branch of Kerala Police which submitted a chargesheet naming ten persons including a CPI(M) local committee member as accused.
However, Ramabhadran’s wife Bindu approached the High Court alleging that the case was being sabotaged and seeking orders to bring out the conspiracy behind the murder. Though the then Congress-led UDF Government recommended a CBI probe, the agency was not prepared to take it up. It took up the probe later following a directive from the High Court.
“Minister Mercykutty Amma should explain how murderers, violence-mongers and anti-social elements had got into her personal staff. The ministers have the responsibility to ensure that their staff members have good track record. The Minister will have to pay a heavy price if she tries to protect the person arrested for the murder,” Chennithala said.
Claiming that the arrest of her aide and the CPI(M) functionaries was politically motivated, Mercykutty Amma said action would be taken against Maxon only after his role in the crime was proved. “I can see the arrests only as an act of political score-settling. It is a move that affects the credibility of the CBI,” she added.