KOCHI: Jomet Michael and Sooraj, who received anticipatory bail in the case relating to alleged bribery at the Kerala University arts festival, on Friday came out with serious charges against SFI.
Jomet and Sooraj told reporters in Kochi that they had witnessed SFI activists assaulting P N Shaji, an arts festival judge who was found dead in his house in Mele Chovva, Kannur, on Wednesday evening.
Shaji and the two dance trainers were booked following a complaint lodged by the festival organisers alleging that the judge had taken a bribe to favour a team in the Margamkali competition. Shaji was later released on bail.
According to Jomet, following the announcement of Margamkali results, Shaji was beaten up after being taken to a room close to the Senate hall.
‘Shaji’s plea to stop attack disregarded’
“Shaji was assaulted with a cricket bat. There were hockey sticks and several lethal weapons in the room,” said Jomet, adding that SFI leaders Anju Krishna and Akshay led the attack. They continued the assault despite Shaji’s pleas to stop it, they said.
According to them, Shaji pleaded, ‘please don’t drag me into unnecessary issues, I have no other means for livelihood. I will end my life’.
The duo said they were detained, along with the Margamkali judges, in the same room for several hours.
Jomet and Sooraj also expressed their intention to complain against the SFI leaders seeking appropriate action.