TP murder case: UDF government to replace LDF-era SC counsel after K K Rema’s demand

New Delhi: The Kerala government has decided to replace the senior advocate representing the state in the Supreme Court in the TP Chandrasekharan murder case, sources connected with the government told Mathrubhumi News.

Senior advocate P V Dinesh, who has appeared for the state during the tenure of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government, is set to be replaced. The UDF government is considering appointing either former Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar or senior criminal lawyer Sidharth Luthra to represent the state.

The decision follows allegations raised by K K Rema, the UDF MLA from Vadakara and wife of slain Revolutionary Marxist Party leader TP Chandrasekharan, that lawyers representing the accused and the government had acted in collusion during the previous LDF government’s tenure.

After the UDF came to power, Rema approached the government seeking the appointment of prominent criminal lawyers to represent the state before the Supreme Court.

According to sources connected with the government, the final decision on the new counsel is expected to be taken by Advocate General Jaju Babu.

Rema seeks time to respond to bail pleas

The change in legal representation also comes as the Supreme Court has deferred the hearing on bail pleas filed by seven convicts in the TP Chandrasekharan murder case, including Kodi Suni, by three weeks.

The accused had sought an early hearing, arguing that they had spent more than 13 years in prison and should therefore be granted bail.

Rema, who is also a respondent in the case, sought more time to file her response to the bail petitions.

Following this, a bench headed by Justice Satish Chandra Sharma adjourned the matter by three weeks and directed Rema to submit her response within two weeks.

Advocate G Prakash appeared for the accused, while A Karthik represented Rema. Standing Counsel P S Zulfikar Ali appeared for the Kerala government.