The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team investigating the murder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) functionary E. Manoj arraigned Communist Party of India (Marxist) Kannur district secretary P. Jayarajan as an accused in the case.
In a report submitted at the trial court at Thalassery on Thursday, the CBI investigating team stated that Mr. Jayarajan was the conspirator and that the murder was executed for him. The CBI, in its charge sheet submitted earlier, had attributed political vengeance as the motive behind the murder.
The CPI(M) leader was enlisted as accused in the case by the CBI two days after the court rejected his anticipatory bail application and his subsequent hospitalisation following reported physical indisposition.
Enough proof
Sources close to the CBI team said that Mr. Jayarajan was named accused after the investigating team got strong evidence. Vikraman, the prime accused in the murder case, is a close associate of Mr. Jayarajan. The CBI’s case is that the CPI(M) workers involved in the crime belong to different party committees in different localities and, therefore, it could not have been planned and executed without the knowledge of Mr. Jayarajan as party district secretary.
Mr. Jayarajan had approached the trial court for anticipatory bail after he received notice from the CBI investigating team to appear before it for questioning on January 12. The CBI stand was that the notice was served on him to give him an opportunity to clarify his stand in relation to certain details found during the investigation.
Though the CPI(M) was yet to issue a press note on the decisions taken at the district committee meeting held here on Thursday, party sources confided that it was in favour of Mr. Jayarajan approaching the trial court and then the High Court, if necessary, for securing an anticipatory bail. Till the anticipatory bail application to be submitted is settled by the court, the party will oppose any move to arrest Mr. Jayarajan, the sources said.
