Chandrasekharan murder:HC rejects bail pleas of CPI-M leaders

"It is very suprising and disturbing to note that in recent times political patronage of criminals is gaining alarming proportions," Justice P Bhavadasan noted while dismissing the bail pleas of two CPI(M) local leaders from Kannur-- Karayi Rajan and Karayi Chandrasekharan, accused in the T P Chandrasekharan murder case.

"Political parties instead of weeding them out, seem to encourage them. Such act of brutality is indeed a threat to the society and amounts to an open challenge of law," the court held.

The court examined the case diaries and statements of 14 witnesses.

This is the third time that the bail pleas have been rejected.

Chandrasekharan, who left the CPI-M to float the Revolutionary Marxist Party, was killed by a seven-member gang at nearby Vadakara on May 4, this year. Several local CPI-M functionaries have been arrested in connection with the murder.