TP murder case verdict to create problems in CPM; court confirms conspiracy

KOCHI: The High Court verdict enumerating the conspiracies of CPM leaders with hired killers to assassinate TP Chandrasekaran will put the party on the defensive. Apart from convicted local leaders KC Ramachandran and PK Kunjananthan; KK Krishnan and Jyotibabu are on the way to jail. At the same time, Kozhikode district secretary P Mohanan's acquittal was upheld by the party.

The High Court held that since the formation of RMP by TP Chandrasekaran, who left the CPM, there was political enmity. The animosity increased when TP's candidature resulted in CPM's defeat in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. Intelligence also warned that there is a possibility of attack. TP had told his wife Rama that if anything happened to him, it would be with the knowledge of KK Krishnan, KC Ramachandran, Mohanan and others.

In February 2012, KK Krishnan made a public speech that TP would face dire consequences. It can be assumed that this speech was made with some goals in mind. KC Ramachandran was also present there.

Between April 2 and 20 that year, CPM activists PK Kunjananthan, KC Ramachandran and Jyotibabu made 32 phone calls to Trouser Manojan. KC and Manojan met at Kunjananthan's Parat house on the 20th. Within four days, 16 phone conversations took place between Kirmani Manoj, Mohammad Shafi, KC Ramachandran, Jyotibabu and Kunhananthan.

There is evidence that on April 10, 2012, prime accused Anoop, Kodi Suni, KC Ramachandran, Jyotibabu and Manoj met at Sameera Quarters in Chokli.

TP was killed on May 4, 2012. Till the day before the murder, there was contact between the CPM leaders and the ones who committed the murder. It is prima facie clear that there was a conspiracy between the killer gang members and the implicated leaders.

The trial court had not charged conspiracy against the six members of the murder gang at first. However, KC Ramachandran, PK Kunjananthan and Jyotibabu were in constant contact with them. It was on the basis of this evidence that KK Krishnan and Jyotibabu were again implicated in the murder conspiracy and the six accused were additionally charged with conspiracy.