Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Kannurdistrict secretary P. Jayarajan was Monday granted bail by the Kerala HighCourt in the murder of Indian Union Muslim League worker Abdul Shukoor inFebruary.
Granting conditional bail, the court asked Jayarajan tofurnish a security of Rs.25,000, two sureties and directed him not to try toinfluence the witnesses in the case.
The CPI-M Kannur district secretary has been named as the32nd accused in the charge sheet by police and was in judicial custody at theKannur jail after his arrest Aug 1.
In view of the series of holidays for the Onam festival, thehigh court while granting bail pointed out that all steps should be taken toensure that Jayarajan was freed Monday.
However, the first class judicial magistrate of KannurMonday extended the remand of the CPI-M leader till Sep 10, saying that he wasyet to receive any information on the bail granted by the high court toJayarajan.
According to the charge sheet, Shukoor, a 22-year-oldactivist of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), was murdered because he wasinvolved in an attack on Jayarajan and CPI-M legislator T.V. Rajesh while theywere travelling in a vehicle.
IUML is the second biggest constituent of the rulingCongress-led United Democratic Front.
The first six accused include local youth wing activists ofthe CPI-M who had played a direct role in the murder of Shukoor, according topolice.
Rajesh, the 33rd accused in the case, surrendered in courton Aug 13 after his anticipatory bail was rejected by the Kerala High Court. Hewas released Aug 22 after securing bail.
Of the 33 accused, 30 - who include close to two dozenactivists of the CPI-M and its affiliates - have been arrested.