HC declines to stay warrants against CPM candidates

Kochi: The high court on Friday declined the plea of DYFI leaders and assembly election candidates T V Rajesh and M Swaraj to stop the execution of warrants against them until the polls are over.
However, the court stayed further proceedings on the warrants for 10 days and allowed them to seek bail from the magistrate courts concerned. In the order, Justice C K Abdul Rehim said stopping the execution of the warrant on the reason that the accused are contesting election would amount to discrimination.The court also said they could have at least complied with the warrants and appeared before the courts when they came to know that they are going to contest the polls.
Non-bailable warrants have been issued against Swaraj in nine cases, including cases alleging destruction of public property , in connection with various protests at Thiruvananthapuram. Warrants were issued against Rajesh in two cases for taking part in protests conducted at Pathanapuram and Kozhikode.