RSS worker murder: CPM leader surrenders, sent to judicial custody

Kerala Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Kannur district secretary P. Jayarajan, who is an accused in the murder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker Kathiroor Manoj, was on Friday sent to a month's judicial custody after he surrendered before the district sessions court at Thalassery.

The development comes in wake of Kerala High Court's rejection of the anticipatory bail plea submitted by Jayarajan in the murder case, after which he surrendered before the court.

The CPM leader was booked by the CBI for conspiracy, under section 18 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), in the murder of Manoj.

The CBI had earlier claimed that Jayarajan, the 25th accused in the murder of RSS leader Manoj, is the brain behind the case.

A division bench comprising Justice K.T. Sanakaran and Justice K.P. Jyothindranath asked the CBI to produce the case diary and mark the relevant portions showing the role of Jayarajan, if any, in the case.

Manoj, a district functionary of RSS, was hacked to death at Kathiroor in Kannur district on September 1, 2014 allegedly by a group of CPM workers.