SC upholds conviction of Kerala CPI-M leader

The Supreme Court Friday upheld the conviction of Kerala CPI-M leader M.V. Jayarajan for using unparliamentary words against state high court judges but reduced the sentence from six months to four months.

An apex court bench headed by Justice Vikramajit Sen upheld Jayarajan's conviction holding that he has no remorse for his utterances against high court judges.

Jayarajan in July 2010 while speaking at a public meeting, after the high court banned road-side meetings, spoke unparliamentary words in the manner the judges pass judgments.

The high court acting on a PIL on his utterances began the trial on October 2010 and convicted him for contempt and awarded six months imprisonment Nov 8, 2011

However, he was granted bail by the apex court after serving a week in jail. The only relief that the two-time former CPI-M legislator from Kannur got Friday was that the apex court reduced the sentence from six months to four weeks.

Reacting to the verdict, Jayarajan said that he accepts the verdict.

Jayarajan thus becomes the first political leader in the state to be jailed in a contempt of court case.

Sources in the Kerala government said that once they get the order, Jayarajan will be arrested .

Jayarajan, 54, is presently a state committee member and is considered as a firebrand leader of the party.

As the trial progressed in the Kerala high court Jayarajan on one occasion lashed out at the judiciary and remarked that he is being denied natural justice.