P Jayarajan remanded, in hospital
Difference being the presence of a cop in front of the ICU unit of Pariyaram Medical College.
KOZHKODE: For the time-being, the status quo will continue for CPM leader P Jayarajan. Though he is technically in judicial custody, the only difference is there will not be a policeman armed with a rifle in front of the ICU unit of Pariyaram Medical College Hospital (PMCH) where Jayarajan has been housed for the last three weeks. In addition, there will be only one assistant attested by the prison officials as an aide to Jayarajan.
But those who know the history of Kannur can easily understand that now Jayarajan is at ease. The comforts would continue as PMCH is considered a CPM fortress. But worries also will nag as the CBI is adamant. Both camps are busy with sessions on the legal stance to be taken.
The CBI had submitted a petition at the Additional Sessions Court, Thalassery seeking the custody of Jayarajan for interrogation on Friday. If the court denies it citing health related reasons, CBI sources indicate, that they will go for a medical report of Jayarajan and also press for shifting him to some other government medical college on the ground that PMCH is run by the CPM and medical reports could be cooked up.
The Court has accepted the petition and also posted the case for hearing on Monday. CPM circles wonder what the next step of the CBI will be.
On the political front, the surrender of Jayarajan before Friday was a calculated move. It was clear for the CPM leadership that backed by an anti-CPM regime at the centre, no mercy could be expected from the CBI. Moreover, the CBI had been gradually tightening the legal noose around Jayarajan.
Though they did not enlist him in the first charge-sheet, his name figured in about twelve points in the charge sheet against Vikraman, the prime accused. With the elections to the state legislature round the corner CPM had two gains from the surrender.
On the first hand they can unleash a campaign highlighting the RSS agenda behind the ‘crucifixion’ of Jayarajan. Secondly if the party resisted the CBI move to arrest Jayarajan it would have resulted in damaging the image of the party.
More over the move of the court handing over the decision making powers on the treatment of Jayarajan to the prison officials and the consequential action, sending Jayarajan back to Pariyaram MCH, has providing a breathing space for both Jayarajan as well as the party.