Opposition alleges political intrigue behind bus memory card loss

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader V D Satheesan who alleged political conspiracy behind the disappearance of the memory card from the KSRTC bus, the driver of which had got into a tussle with Thiruvananthapuram mayor Arya Rajendran in the capital city last week, said there should not be double justice for the two.
It is mysterious the memory card inside the bus went missing during the dispute between the mayor and the KSRTC driver. It disappeared amid allegations that the mayor's husband and MLA Sachin Dev got into the bus and asked passengers to get down. It is suspected the memory card was deliberately removed and destroyed, fearing it would provide evidence against them, said Satheesan.
"It should also be checked whether there is a political conspiracy behind the disappearance of the memory card, which would have been a crucial piece of evidence in the case,'' said Satheesan.
It is unacceptable that no case has been registered against the mayor and MLA for violating law. Registering a case based on a complaint from the mayor, and dismissing the complaint given by the driver is double standards of justice. The police and the KSRTC management have committed serious errors regarding the incident, he added.
KSRTC officials did not respond even after the mayor caused hindrance to movement of the bus in the middle of the city and asked all passengers to get down without completing their journey for which they had paid.
"Doesn't KSRTC have responsibility towards the victims? Despite cancelling the trip, no complaint was lodged with the police. Will this be the approach of KSRTC if a common man does this? Or do the mayor and MLA have any privilege? Whose interest the KSRTC is protecting by not filing a complaint against the mayor and her team?'' asked Satheesan.
The mayor and her family had got into a heated argument with the KSRTC bus driver last Saturday night after allegedly blocking the vehicle at Palayam junction.
Rajendran claimed the KSRTC bus was not blocked, but CCTV visuals aired by television channels showed her private car parked across the zebra line on the road.
She had said she spoke to the driver while the bus was stopped at the red signal area to raise her protest against his alleged sexually suggestive gestures towards her and her sister-in-law.
The driver, who was booked in connection with the incident, has refuted the allegations.