Court tells police to file case against Kerala BJP chief for bribery

By LE Desk

New Delhi, June 17, 2021: The Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Kalpetta, in Kerala’s Wayanad district, has directed the police to register a case against BJP leader K. Surendran and Janadhipathya Rashtriya Sabha (JRS) leader C K Janu on various charges including bribery.

Surendran had allegedly paid ₹50 lakh to Janu, a tribal leader, in cash to ensure her allegiance to the NDA, The Hindu reported.

The court ordered that a case be registered under IPC Sections 171 B (gratification to any person with the object of inducing him or any other person to exercise any electoral right), I71 E (bribery) and 171 F (undue influence or personation at an election), The Indian Express reported.

The court issued the directive as per a complaint filed by MSF State president P.K. Navas. 

Navas alleged in his petition that Surendran had bribed Janu in two occasions to contest in the recent Assembly election as the NDA candidate in Sulthan Bathery Assembly segment.

The court registered the crime and issued a directive to Station House Officer (SHO), Sulthan Bathery police station, to investigate the allegation.