Minister K Rajan appears in court, gets bail in Secretariat march case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Revenue Minister K Rajan on Monday appeared in person before a court and obtained bail in a case related to alleged damage to public property during a Secretariat march. This came despite an earlier police report stating that he could not be traced. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Elsa Catherine granted him bail.

The case relates to a Secretariat march held on February 11, 2013, by AIYF activists demanding the resignation of then Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien. The march, led by K Rajan, allegedly broke police barricades and caused a loss of Rs 50,000 to the government.

The minister had initially taken bail but later failed to appear in court when the case was taken up. Following this, a warrant was issued by the court. Based on a police report stating that he could not be located, the case was included among those where the accused could not be apprehended. Ahead of the Assembly elections, the minister personally appeared before the court and obtained bail. Former prosecutor M Salahuddin appeared in court on behalf of the minister.