Court asks police not to arrest MLA, Wayanad DCC chief

The Wayanad Principal Sessions Court on Friday (January 10) directed the police not to arrest MLA I.C. Balakrishnan and Wayanad District Congress Committee (DCC) president N.D. Appachan in connection with the alleged suicides of former DCC treasurer N.M. Vijayan and his son. The court issued the oral directive while considering the anticipatory bail plea by the duo. The police have been asked to withhold their arrest till January 15 and to produce the case diary in the court.

The MLA and the DCC president, along with Congress leader K.K. Gopinath, have been charged with abetment of suicide. While the first two sought anticipatory bail from the sessions court, Mr. Gopinath approached the High Court.

In a note, Vijayan incriminated the trio, stating that he accepted a bribe for an appointment to the Urban Cooperative Bank in Sulthan Bathery on the orders of the MLA and the DCC president. The note allegedly claimed that the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee was aware of the deal.

The anticipatory bail plea will be heard in detail on January 15. Vijayan and his son Jijesh died at the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, on December 27.

Published - January 11, 2025 12:02 am IST