Police protection appeal of M Raseef rejected by Kerala High Court

Kochi: Kerala High Court on Friday rejected a plea seeking police protection by M. Raseef, VP of Kerala Chamber of Commerce, who had deposed before the Vigilance against Minister K. Babu in the bar bribe case.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice A.M. Shaffique observed that a direction for police protection was not needed and closed the petition.

Mr Raseef argued that K. Babu had asked Biju Ramesh to give the bag containing Rs 50 lakh to his private secretary at his chamber in May 2013. According to Mr Raseef, he is a witness to an act of bribe and demand and acceptance by a minister. The petitioner had received a call that he should withdraw the statement against the minister and fears  a threat to life.

The government pleader submitted that there was no threat for police protection to the petitioner.

George plea not  to be pursued
Kerala High Court on Friday closed further proceedings on a plea filed by former chief whip P.C. George seeking to declare that finance minister K.M. Mani, who is also party chairman, is not entitled to hold the portfolio of minister due to breach of party constitution.

The petitioner infor-med the court that the EC had already issued a notice on the representation filed by the petitioner regarding holding dual posts. A Division Bench comprising CJ Ashok Bhushan and Justice A.M. Shaffique recorded the submission and closed  further proceedings.

Clause 22 of the party’s constitution sti-pulated if party chairman, vice-chairman, treasurer or secretaries became a minister, speaker or deputy speaker, they shall resign their previous post before assuming charge. He argued that Mr Mani not only violated the clause but also suppressed the said violation from the EC.