'Oath-taking will be arranged in Viyyur jail'; Kerala govt takes stance on BJP councillor Sugathan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government said that the oath-taking of BJP councillor R Sugathan of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation will be conducted in jail. It is reported that the government will inform the High Court not to grant an interim release for the KAAPA accused. The government will inform the court that facilities can be arranged for the oath-taking in Viyyur jail and that there is no obstacle as per the rules.

The court had asked the government yesterday on their stance on Sugathan while considering the BJP councillor's petition seeking temporary release from KAAPA prison to take the oath again. The government had informed the court that it was not legally possible to release Sugathan from KAAPA prison. The High Court recently invalidated the oaths of 20 BJP councillors after it was found that they made specific mention of deities, violating the Kerala Municipality Act. Sugathan was one among them.

It was in this situation that Sugathan approached the court seeking interim bail to take the oath again. Earlier, the Nedumangad court had granted interim bail to Sugathan in two cases. However, the court clarified that the interim bail would be applicable only if he is released from jail in the KAAPA case. Sugathan was granted interim bail in the case of roughing up Prashanth, a native of Aruvippuram, at the Vellekkadu junction in Vattiyoorkavu in March and in the case of attacking the policemen who came to arrest him in the KAAPA case.