Special Team formed to plug legal loopholes; swift chargesheet looming in ED assault case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Police are moving swiftly to file a chargesheet against the accused involved in the assault on Enforcement Directorate officers, who were attacked while returning from a raid at the residence of Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan. To prevent any legal loopholes from being exploited by the defence, the police department has constituted a dedicated Special Investigation Team comprising personnel from various stations and the Crime Branch. A preliminary investigation revealed that a mass attempt-to-murder case involving nearly three hundred accused is highly unusual, prompting authorities to take exhaustive measures to ensure the prosecution's case remains watertight.

Legal experts within the department raised concerns that the defence might challenge the validity of the arrests in court, arguing that the officers who initially detained the suspects lacked the specific jurisdiction or authorisation for this particular probe. By incorporating all police personnel involved in the multi-district crackdown into the official Special Investigation Team, the department aims to neutralise any procedural technicalities regarding the legality of the arrests. Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner K. Karthick confirmed that the collection of evidence is being prioritised to facilitate the expedited submission of the final chargesheet.

The newly formed investigation team operates under the direct supervision of Cantonment Assistant Commissioner V. Jayachandran and is led by Museum Station House Officer R. Prasanth. The comprehensive team features a large contingent of law enforcement personnel, including several Station House Officers, Sub-Inspectors, and specialised Cyber Cell officers, ensuring that technical and field intelligence are seamlessly integrated. An official directive issued by the Police Commissioner mandates that the leadership oversee every dimension of the investigation with absolute precision. The accused currently face severe charges, including attempted murder, obstructing public servants from discharging their duties, and the destruction of public property, with courts already denying bail to five individuals implicated in the violence.