V A Zakir Hussain evades arrest for second day

Kochi: In spite of claims by CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan that former Kalamassery area committee Zakir Hussain will surrender before the court, the CPM leader evaded arrest for the second consecutive day. The Kerala High Court on Monday had rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Zakir Hussain and asked him to surrender within seven days before the investigation officer. The order was communicated to both the accused and the cops and the order made it clear that custodial interrogation of Zakir is necessary.

The court also felt that collection of materials is absolutely necessary. Police refused to divulge any details on the arrest of Zakir. Interestingly, in spite of knowing the fact that Zakir is present in Kochi, police failed to make any move to arrest the leader who is also the president of Ernakulam Sports Council. Zakir went to the Kalamassery Area Committee office of CPM and held discussions with the party top brass. The CPM, meanwhile, announced that Zakir's entry to the office will be probed.

Hundreds of CPM activists reached Kalama-ssery to show support. Zakir moved High Court after the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court dismissed his plea. Palarivattom police registered case against him after Jube Paulose from Vennala, filed a complaint alleging that Hussain had threatened him demanding to withdraw from a business deal with Sheela Thomas from Kakkanad.

Kodiyeri asks Zakir to surrender

CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has said that those who are facing criminal charges should submit themselves before the law-enforcing agencies.
He said the circumstances under which Zakir Hussain visited CPM Kalamassery area committee office on Monday will be examined. Mr Kodiyeri was speaking to reporters in Delhi on Tuesday. He had recently defended Zakir Husain saying that the cases registered against him were related to agitations held against UDF regime.

He had also questioned the delay caused by the complainant in bringing the charges before the police. He said unlike the UDF which tried to hush up allegations against their supporters, the CPM had registered case against Zakir Hussain. While the police was given a free hand on the one hand, the party initiated its own process of probing such allegations. CPM central committee member Elamaram Kareem had been asked to look into the allegations.

Mr Kodiyeri said it was important to look into the circumstances that led to the person filing the complaint about one and a half years after the incident. He said in another incident the Chief Minister had directed the police to take stringent action against some people who had used his name for committing a fraud. People misusing the name of party leaders or those in government position will be dealt with strictly and would not get any protection, he added.