Anti-Constitution remarks: High Court orders further probe against minister Saji Cherian

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has ordered a further probe into Minister Saji Cherian's alleged remarks against the Constitution during a speech in Mallappally. The High Court order will put the state government in a crisis. Saji Cherian had earlier stepped down from the cabinet following the controversy surrounding his remark. In 2023, he returned to the cabinet after the Magistrate Court acquitted him in the case.

The court severely criticised the state police while observing that the investigation by the police was not satisfactory. The court observed that the report given by the investigating officer was not complete and the evidence was not verified. The court also criticized that the police concluded the investigation before the results of the forensic examination came out. The High Court has directed the Crime Branch to conduct further probe into the case. The court also directed that the investigation should be led by the DGP.

Saji Cherian was acquitted by the Magistrate Court based on the clean chit report submitted by the police. Challenging this, Advocate M. Baiju Noel filed a petition in the High Court seeking a CBI investigation. The High Court had earlier pointed out that certain words in Saji Cherian's speech could be considered contempt of the Constitution under the 2003 amendment to the National Honor Act.