Kerala court initiates contempt proceedings against MLA Najeeb Kanthapuram for obstructing Advocate Commissioner

A Manjeri court has initiated suo motu contempt of court proceedings against Perinthalmanna MLA Najeeb Kanthapuram over allegations that he obstructed a court-appointed Advocate Commissioner from carrying out his official duties.

Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Saritha Raveendran initiated the proceedings on September 29 and ordered the issuance of a show-cause notice to Kanthapuram within seven working days

"Issue show cause notice to the alleged contemnor Sri.Najeeb Kanthapuram MLA, Perinthalmanna Constituency within 7 working days," the order stated.

The matter is listed next on October 9.

The contempt proceedings arose from certain allegations made by advocate KP Krishna Kumar, who had been appointed as Advocate-Commissioner by the court to oversee the process of taking the possession of certain property following a loan default.

The loan had been extended by the Perinthalmanna Urban Co-operative Bank, which had approached the court for relief.

When the Advocate Commissioner along with bank officials and the police visited the property of the borrower, Kanthapuram allegedly intervened and questioned the action. An argument ensued and the officials reportedly left without completing the proceedings.

The Advocate Commissioner later filed a complaint, alleging that MLA Kanthapram had misbehaved and obstructed him from carrying out his official duties.

On September 28, the complaint was forwarded to the concerned Station House Officer and the court directed the Malappuram Superintendent of Police to provide necessary assistance to the Advocate Commissioner.

A day later, on September 29, the court took up the matter suo motu and initiated contempt of court proceedings against Kanthapuram.