‘I’ve not hidden anything; Court order is a natural procedure,’ says Riyas

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The court had the other day ordered P A Muhammad Riyas MLA and his wife, Veena, to appear in person in connection with the allegations that details were concealed in the affidavit submitted along with the nomination papers for the assembly election. Now, Beypore MLA and former minister P A Muhammad Riyas has clarified his stand on the matter. The order was issued by district principal sessions Judge A Nazeera. The court directed both to appear in person and provide an explanation.

Full text of Riyas’s post
Let me make it clear firstly that I have not hidden anything in my election affidavit. Everything is a public record and can be verified by anyone. A private complaint filed by an individual alleging that information had been concealed in the nomination papers was dismissed by the Thiruvananthapuram Magistrate’s Court on May 16, 2026. It was not a news for the media then.

I understand that the petitioner then filed a revision petition before the Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court. Whenever someone approaches a court in such a manner, issuing a notice to the opposite party is simply a completely normal legal procedure. From the reports in the media, I understand that the Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court has directed that such a notice be sent to us. We have not received any such notice so far. Once a notice is received, it is the usual legal procedure for a lawyer to appear on our behalf.

Some are trying to distort facts and engage in character assassination by presenting what is nothing more than a completely routine court procedure as must appear in person, running it as breaking news and publishing online cards featuring photographs.

Magistrate Court dismissing the complaint is not considered news, while the completely routine court procedure that followed is being made into a major news story. It is not difficult to understand the interests behind this. We will legally confront false complaints and fake news.