The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Monday rejected the application of former CPI (M) Idukki district secretary M.M. Mani requesting 10 days’ time to file a petition before the Supreme Court. The SIT had issued notice to Mr. Mani to appear in person before the Dy.SP here at 10 a.m. on Monday to answer questions related to his speech at Manakkad near here on May 25 that the party had maintained a list of opponents it wanted eliminated and that three of them had been killed.
Mr. Mani had gone out of his house at 8.30 a.m. on Monday, but did not turn up at the Dy.SP office. Instead, he sent his counsels with the appeal. A meeting convened by Ernakulam Range Inspector-General K. Padmakumar, who is heading the SIT, reviewed the situation and rejected his application.
Mr. Padmakumar said there was no legal provision for allowing a person time to move court. In such situations, the police had been given additional powers under the legal framework and would act accordingly.
Rumours of arrest
There were rumours that Mr. Mani would be arrested. A police team had reached his house at Kunjithanni in the afternoon. His mobile had been switched off from the morning itself and his whereabouts remained unknown.
It is believed that he will court arrest publicly to whip up sentiments. Mr. Mani, on Sunday, met a senior advocate of the High Court and it was learnt that he was advised to surrender before the Dy.SP.
Mr. Mani made his speech at Manakkad on May 25, which was aired prominently by the visual media resulting in the police filing an FIR before the First Class Judicial Magistrate here on May 28, charging him with non-bailable offenses. The following day, the State government formed the 30-member SIT to inquire into all political murders in the district since 1980s. The first notice was issued by the SIT to Mr. Mani on June 6. His counsel informed the Dy.SP that the case was sub judice as Mr. Mani had moved the High Court to quash the FIR.
