TP Chandrasekharan murder case: Three prison officials in Kannur suspended over recommendation for reduced sentence

The LDF government in Kerala on Thursday suspended three officials of Kannur Central Jail for seeking police reports of CPI-M workers serving life sentences in the TP Chandrasekharan murder case with a view to giving them special treatment.

The suspended officials include Kannur Central Jail Deputy Superintendent KS Sreejith, Deputy Superintendent Grade-I BG Arun and Assistant Jail Warden OV Raghunath. The orders were issued by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who holds the portfolio of the Home Ministry.

The prison officials had sought the police report of the TP Chandrasekharan murder case convicts, who are serving life sentences. Despite a court directive that they are not eligible for leniency before serving 20 years of imprisonment, the officials included them in the list of prisoners eligible for early release.

The decision to suspend the prison staff was announced on Thursday ahead of the opposition leader’s submission to the Kerala Parliament.

The incident has embarrassed the state government as the opposition has raised the matter in Parliament. Vatakara MP KK Rema, widow of TP Chandrsekharan, moved a motion to adjourn the session on Tuesday, which was rejected by Speaker AN Shamseer. The Speaker rejected KK Rema’s request and said that no such request was made.

Reacting to the Speaker’s decision, Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan accused the Speaker of committing a shocking breach of parliamentary etiquette by attempting to reply on behalf of the government, pointing out the inappropriateness of the Speaker replying on behalf of the government on a matter.

Satheesan alleged that the Speaker was afraid to allow a discussion on the issue. Despite VD Satheesan’s attempts to clarify his position, the Speaker did not let him speak and switched off his microphone. Angry at the Speaker’s actions, opposition MPs poured into the hall and disrupted the session by shouting anti-government slogans. The Speaker rushed to clear the agenda and adjourned the session for the day.

Later, speaking to reporters in the Assembly media room on Tuesday, VD Satheesan claimed that the conspiracy to quash the verdict was a long and drawn-out process that had already started in 2018.

“The government has pushed the process of reducing sentences at full speed. Denying this is a blatant lie and a challenge to the rule of law,” he said.

Satheesan blamed the state government and alleged that the convicts in the TP murder case were being given preferential treatment in prison. “These convicts are getting undue preferential treatment and even five-star facilities in prison. They decide their own menu. Rema had asked for clarification of the parole details of these prisoners five months ago but to no avail. We understand that they have been blackmailing the CPM,” Satheesan said.

Satheesan said he was in possession of a letter from the prison superintendent to the police commissioner asking for details of the prisoners eligible for early release, including those convicted of murder.