Case filed against Kerala BJP chief for ‘bribing’ poll candidate after court’s order

Kerala Police on Monday registered a case against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state chief K Surendran for allegedly bribing Independent candidate, K Sundara to withdraw his candidature from the Manjeswaram constituency ahead of the recent state elections, following a court directive.

Sundara, who stood from the Mancheswaram seat against Surendran alleged last week that he was paid ₹2.5 lakh to withdraw his candidature. He later pulled out of the political contest. IUML’s AKM Ashraf eventually won the seat.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate, V V Ramesan had moved Kasaragod magistrate court against Surendran. Police said the BJP chief has been booked under Sections 171 (B) and (E) (bribery) of the IPC.

The BJP said it will challenge the decision in a higher court. “There is a concerted move to target the party and its leaders in Kerala. Both the ruling CPI(M) and opposition Congress have joined hands...,” said party leader A N Radhakrishnan in Kochi.