Kerala High Court on Friday granted bail to CPM Onchiyam area secretary C H Ashokan, the first accused in the case registered at the Chombala police station in connection with a murder conspiracy hatched against RMP leader T P Chandrasekharan in 2009.
“Considering the period of detention and all the facts, Ashokan is granted bail,” said Justice N K Balakrishnan. The court also pointed out that no custodial interrogation was sought by the investigating officer in the case during his remand period.
Appearing for the state Advocate-General K P Dandapani submitted that conspiracy was hatched in September 2009 at the house of another accused in Mahe and at Onchiyam area committee office at Nadapuram Road.
Though the objective of that conspiracy could not be achieved, the petitioner and the other accused committed the offence of criminal conspiracy, the prosecution said. Dandapani also pointed out the speeches made by the accused. Counsel for the petitioner M K Damodaran submitted that the case was registered as dictated by a ruling political party.
The conspiracy is always hatched in secrecy and that no conspiracy can be inferred from the speeches made in public meetings. The prosecution also failed to reveal when the conspiracy was hatched. Ashokan is a local leader of the party and there was nothing unusual in having discussion with other leaders or workers, Damodaran said.
The court asked Ashokan to furnish a bond for `one lakh along with two solvent sureties for the like amount and asked to appear before the investigating officer on all Mondays and Fridays.