The appearance of veteran BJP leader P S Sreedharan Pillai as defence counsel for the accused in a case pertaining to publishing and sale of a book, which allegedly exhorts war against idolatry and fans communal hatred, has raised many eyebrows.
The District Sessions Court granted anticipatory bail to K Mujeeb Rahman, 42, fourth accused in the case, who was running Tirurangadi Book Stall in Edu- Mart Complex, Moffusil Bus Stand, Kozhikode, on October 5.
Nadakkavu Police had seized the controversial book ‘Dhawathum Jihadum’ published by Nanma Books, Kozhikode, from the book stall and a case was registered under sections 153A and 153B of IPC. Author Moulana Abdul Aleem Islahi, a known SIMI sympathizer, is the first accused.
However, when contacted, Sreedharan Pillai said that he was not representing Nanma Books, but only for Mujeeb. “The allegation that I have appeared as counsel for the publisher is false. Mujeeb Rahman was selling all kinds of books including the publications of RSS. He, a former SFI leader and a CPM sympathizer, is falsely implicated in this case.
In my affidavit, I clearly pointed out that Nanma Books’ activities were objectionable and a probe should be initiated into this.
” Meanwhile, protest is brewing in the party rank and file against Sreedharan Pillai in this regard. BJP state president V Muraleedharan, however, said that the party state leadership had no knowledge regarding this. “If he had appeared in the case for the accused, who are anti-national elements, it is not good,” he added.
Pillai is a national executive member and former state president of BJP. According to the FIR, by selling the book from his shop the accused committed the same crime as the others accused. Police have so far arrested only Abdu Rahiman in the case.