Pathanamthitta: Another non-bailable case was slapped against BJP leader K Surendran on Thursday, a day after he was granted bail in a case connected with the Sabarimala row.
Surendran has been named as the 12th accused in a case pertaining to the protests at Sabarimala on Chithira Thirunal Aatta Vishesham on November 5. Protests had erupted at Sabarimala after a 52-year-old woman, Lalitha from Thrissur, reached the temple. Suspecting that she belonged to the barred age group of 10-50, devotees had staged protests.
Surendran is slapped non-bailable offences, including criminal conspiracy, over the incident. Apart from Surendran. the police have also named RSS leader Valsan Thillankeri, BJP leader VV Rajesh, and Yuvamorcha president Prakash Babu.
Surendran along with two others had been arrested on November 18 from Nilakkal as he tried to proceed to the Lord Ayyappa Temple despite being advised by police personnel against visiting Sabarimala due to law and order issues. He was granted conditional bail on Wednesday.
The accused have been asked not to enter Ranni taluk, where the Lord Ayyappa temple is located, for two months and they have been directed to submit two personal sureties of Rs 20,000 each.
Since a non-bailable warrant is pending against him before the Kannur magistrate court, Surendran will have to get bail in that case to come out of jail.
The court on Wednesday had also granted bail to 69 people, who were arrested after they held a Namajapa protest inside the shrine complex late Sunday, defying prohibitory orders.
The arrested were given a rousing welcome at the Pandalam Royal palace on Thursday.
CM meets governor
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday met Governor P Sathasivam over the Sabarimala row. The CM's office said it was a routine visit. However, the governor had received numerous complaints on the restrictions at Sabarimala.
Restrictions have been imposed at the Lord Ayyappa temple following protests by devotees and activists of the BJP and the RSS over the state government's decision to implement the September 28 Supreme Court order.
The hill shrine was opened on November 16 evening for the over two-month-long pilgrimage season amid tension.
