Bathery election bribery case: Surendran questioned, charge sheet to be filed today

Kalpetta: The crime branch investigation team will file a charge sheet in the court on Wednesday in relation to the Bathery Assembly election bribery case. The three accused in the case, including BJP state president K Surendran, were summoned and questioned by the team on Tuesday. The interrogation took place at the headquarters of the Wayanad district police chief. 

K. Surendran, first accused, reached the police headquarters around 11:15 AM on Tuesday and was interrogated for about an hour. After this, the second accused Janadhipathya Rashtriya Party (JRP) president C.K Janu and the third defendant, BJP district general secretary Prashant Malavayal were also questioned.

The case has been registered under three sections namely influencing elections by giving money, destroying evidence and conspiracy. None of the accused cooperated with the investigation on Tuesday. However, the investigating team is confident about having collected digital evidence against them.

The charge sheet was submitted after two years of investigation. The delay in getting the results of scientific analysis and the delay in permission of the prosecution led to the case being delayed. The investigation was led by the Crime branch DySP R. Manoj Kumar.

According to the case registered, Surendran gave money to JRP leader C K Janu for fielding her as an NDA candidate in Sulthan Bathery. C K Janu also is named accused in the case. 

Forensic analysis of the purported audio clips about  the money given by JRP leader Praseetha Azhikode to its veteran leader CK Janu allegedly on Surendran’s behalf for persuading her to contest the assembly polls as NDA candidate were key evidence in the case. 

Apart from the voice of Surendran, the voices of Praseetha and Wayanad BJP leader Prashanth Malavayal have been identified.