Court criticises delay in filing chargesheet

Thiruvananthapuram: The Thiruvananthapuram district principal sessions court on Tuesday sharply criticised the prosecution for failing to file a chargesheet even three years after the alleged attempt to murder chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan aboard an Indigo flight.The court observed that the explanation offered by the prosecution that the delay was due to the absence of central govt approval was unsatisfactory. The remarks were made while considering a petition filed by the first accused, Farsin Majeed, seeking permission to renew his passport.
The case pertains to a protest by Youth Congress workers against the chief minister during a flight from Kannur to Thiruvananthapuram on June 13, 2022. Four Congress workers Youth Congress former state vice-president and former MLA K S Shabarinathan, Farsin Majeed, Naveen Kumar, and Sunit are named as accused.According to the prosecution, the chargesheet was forwarded to the central govt for approval in April 2024, as required under civil aviation laws but clearance was not yet granted.Police invoked charges, including attempt to murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and criminal intimidation in connection with the incident, in which Youth Congress workers allegedly attempted to assault the CM inside the aircraft.Separately, complaints filed by accused Majeed and Naveen Kumar led to the registration of a case against CPM leader E P Jayarajan. Cases were also registered against the CM's gunman Anilkumar and personal assistant Suneesh, based on orders issued by the Thiruvananthapuram judicial first class magistrate court.