Koothattukulam councillor abduction: CPI(M) workers move Kerala court for anticipatory bail

Five members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)/ CPI (M) have moved the Ernakulam sessions court seeking anticipatory bail in connection with the Koothattukulam municipal councillor abduction and coercion case [PB Ratheesh and ors v State of Kerala]..Kala Raju, a CPI(M) councillor in the LDF-led Koothattukulam municipality, had recently hinted at a shift in allegiance to the rival United Democratic Front (UDF) which holds 11 seats in the 25-member municipal body.She alleged that she was abducted on the morning of January 18 (Saturday) by her fellow CPI(M) members to thwart her support for a crucial no-confidence motion brought by the UDF. The abduction allegedly took place minutes before the motion was to be moved. .Five CPI(M) workers booked in the case have vehemently denied the allegations, describing the case as a politically motivated attempt to tarnish their reputation.In their anticipatory bail plea, they have alleged that Kala Raju has been influenced by UDF workers and that the present complaint, filed by her children, is only an attempt to defame CPI(M) workers."The mother of the de-facto complainant is influenced by the U.D.F party workers and counsellors. The instant crime is registered in pursuant to a planned attempt to defame and corner the C.P.I.M party workers," the petition read.The bail application has been filed through advocates KS Arunkumar and Vijay Sankar VH. .The Left Democratic Front (LDF) - to which the CPI(M) belongs - presently holds 13 seats in the municipal council, which forms the majority of the 25-member council.The LDF is facing opposition from 11 UDF members and 1 independent member (12 members in total). The UDF had planned to move a no-confidence motion against the municipal body's chairperson, Vijaya Sivan from the CPI(M) on January 18. Since Kala Raju was touted to support this motion, she was allegedly abducted and forced into a car by fellow party workers of the CPI(M) on Saturday morning. She claimed that she was manhandled and threatened with dire consequences were she to shift her loyalties. She added that she was forced to remain at a CPI(M) committee office for hours, before she was dropped home in the evening..Raju's children filed a criminal complaint in the matter, in which 50 individuals from the CPI(M) party were accused of being complicit in the alleged crime.The accused included the five persons who have now moved the trial cout for anticipatory bail, namely PB Ratheesh, VijayaKumari KP, Sunny Kuriakose, Suma Vishwambharan, and Febeesh George.The first information report (FIR) registered against them cites Sections 140(3) (abduction), 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 115(2) (causing hurt), 189(2) (unlawful assembly), 191(2) (rioting), and 190 (liability of unlawful assembly members for offences committed) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)..More recently, the Kerala High Court closed a writ petition filed by a UDF councillor, Prince Paul John, who had sought police protection in view of the 'untoward incident' that took place on January 18 ahead of the since-cancelled no-confidence vote.The Court, however, noted that the police has already registered a criminal case. It, therefore, disposed of the writ petition after clarifying that it would consider issuing necessary directions if a fresh no-confidence motion is introduced later.According to reports, four CPI(M) activists were also arrested on Monday (January 20) in connection with the case.