THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Arif Mohammad Khan has sought legal advice in reinstating former minister Saji Cheriyan’s to cabinet. Saji Cheriyan resigned from his ministerial post due to anti-constitution remarks. He is being brought back to the cabinet by pointing out that the legal issues in the courts regarding his remarks have ended. Governor has approached the High Court Standing Counsel Adv Gopakumar Nair to know whether there are any legal issues with Saji Cheriyan taking oath as minister again.

The CPM has decided to conduct the swearing-in ceremony on July 4. This was confirmed by party state secretary MV Govindan. Both UDF and BJP are against the decision to reinstate Cheriyan into the cabinet.

Saji Cheriyan resigned on July 6 this year. The police had given a report to the court that the case against Saji Cheriyan was closed. The report says that there is no evidence against Saji Cheriyan in the case. The report submitted to the Thiruvalla court also stated that there was no intention to insult the Constitution. Discussions had already started in the CPM to reinstate Saji Cheriyan in the cabinet based on the police report.

However, lawyer Biju Noel has filed a petition in the High Court demanding the cancellation of the police report and a CBI investigation. The High Court had sent a notice to the government. It is pointed out in the petition that the police investigation was conducted to save the accused and the statements of the witnesses were not properly recorded. The petitioner alleged that the police did not record anyone's statement even though there were many witnesses to the speech he gave in Pathanamthitta's Mallapally when he was a minister.