‘Facts suppressed’: SC issues notice to Cong leader M A Vaheed, Kerala Govt on plea by CPM’s KK Lathika over 2015 Assembly ruckus

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has issued a notice in connection with a petition filed by former CPM MLA K K Lathika challenging the quashing of a case against former Congress MLA M A Vaheed related to a scuffle that took place in the Legislative Assembly in 2015. A bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, sent notices to Wahid and the state government. Lathika alleged in her petition that Wahid had suppressed material facts before the High Court to have the case dismissed.

According to Lathika’s petition, on March 13, 2015, during a commotion in the Assembly when then Finance Minister K M Mani arrived to present the Budget, Wahid had assaulted her. She claimed Vaheed blocked her as she attempted to move towards the women MLAs, grabbed her at various areas, and despite her resistance, pushed her down.

Based on this complaint, a case was filed before the Thiruvananthapuram First Class Magistrate Court, which was later quashed by the Kerala High Court. Senior advocate P V Dinesh, appearing for Lathika, argued that Vaheed obtained a favourable order from the High Court by concealing several key portions of Lathika’s testimony. It was following this submission that the Supreme Court issued the notice. Advocate P S Sudhir appeared for K K Lathika before the apex court.