Kochi

In a setback to CPI(M) in Kerala where assembly polls are due, the High Court today dismissed an anticipatory bail plea of the party Kannur district Secretary P Jayarajan, an accused in the murder of an RSS functionary in 2014, being probed by CBI.

Dismissing the plea, a division bench comprising Justice K T Sankaran and Justice K P Jyothindranath observed that there are prima facie materials to charge offence under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against Jayarajan in the murder case.

The bench said law applies equally to all – the mighty and the poor, the literate and the illiterate – and no extraordinary treatment can be given to the petitioner.

Before, pronouncing the judgement, the High Court examined the CBI case diary.

However, the High Court said it was not giving any opinion on merit of the case.

Opposing the bail plea of Jayarajan, CBI submitted that the CPI(M) strongman was the “kingpin and mastermind” of the criminal conspiracy hatched to murder E Manoj and claimed that it has materials to prove the charges against him.

CBI had issued summons to him in connection with the probe.

Jayarajan moved the High Court seeking anticipatory bail after a lower court in Thalassery rejected the plea last month.

Thalassery District and Sessions court Judge V K Anil Kumar had rejected the bail petition of Jayarajan who was arraigned as the 25th accused in the murder case.

CBI had in January listed Jayarajan as an accused and framed charges against him under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the case.

CPI(M) state leadership has all along maintained that the case was politically motivated and was part a “conspiracy” hatched by RSS and Congress in the state.

Manoj (42), a district functionary of RSS, was hacked to death in politically volatile Kathiroor in Kannur district on September 1, 2014, allegedly by a group of CPI(M) workers. PTI