U-turn by Home Department: Aviation charges dropped in case involving former CM Pinarayi Vijayan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a significant development in the high-profile in-flight protest case involving former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Kerala Police have dropped the stringent aviation law charges previously levelled against the accused Youth Congress workers.

The Thiruvananthapuram District Principal Sessions Court has accepted the revised report submitted by the Valiathura Police. The dramatic legal shift comes four years after the initial registration of the case. While the aviation-related charges have been scrapped, the accused will still face trial for other offences, including attempted murder and criminal conspiracy.

The decision aligns with earlier directives from the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, which had informed the state government that charges under aviation safety laws were legally unsustainable against the protesters. While the State Home Department had initially rejected the Centre's counsel and insisted on pressing forward with the stricter charges, the police reversed their stance following a subsequent change in government.

The incident dates back to an in-flight protest where Youth Congress leaders raised slogans against the former Chief Minister immediately after his flight from Kannur landed in Thiruvananthapuram. Legal experts note that the aviation charges were originally tacked on by the police to prevent the accused from securing easy bail.

The primary accused in the case include Youth Congress leaders Farzeen Majeed, Naveen Kumar, Sudeep James, and K.S. Sabarinathan. With the aviation clauses removed, the defence is expected to seek major relief regarding their bail conditions, even as the state continues to pursue the remaining criminal charges.