Pathanamthitta: The DYFI on Saturday cancelled its march to the Pathanamthitta Excise office, which was organised in protest to the ganja case filed against Yadhu Krishnan, who recently joined CPM with much fanfare despite facing a host of police cases.
“The march was called off because left-wing workers are required to attend the funeral of late party activist Beena Govindan on Sunday. A new date for the protest will be announced later,” a DYFI leader told Manorama News. However, political observers feel the decision was taken not to embarrass the CPM further especially after the Excise refuted the party's allegations.
Earlier, the CPM claimed that the case was fabricated by an excise official affiliated with the Yuva Morcha, following Yadhu’s shift from the RSS to the CPM.
The ganja case and CPM allegations
Pathanamthitta excise wing in its report to the higher officials claimed that an inspector of the department seized 2 kg ganja and a vape (a device used for smoking ganja) from Yadhu, a native of Myladumpara, during a joint inspection and registered the case.
But CPM alleged that a group of Yuva Morcha loyalists in the excise department including an official named Asees conspired against Yadhu and fabricated the case after he ended his affiliations with RSS-BJP and joined DYFI. However, the report of excise dismissed these claims.
Meanwhile, Yadhu filed a complaint with the Pathanamthitta district police chief alleging conspiracy to trap him in a fake case. He argued that excise never seized ganja from him.
The CPM was already embroiled in controversy after Sharan Chandran (who was charged under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities Prevention Act (KAAPA)) and Sudeesh (who is an accused in an attempted murder case) joined the party along with Yadhu Krishnan recently. Health Minister Veena George was the chief guest at the event that welcomed the new members.
The CPM Pathanamthitta district secretary had then contended that Sharan was not an accused under KAAPA. But ASP V Ajith on Saturday told Manorama News that Sharan was an accused in a KAAPA case. "There is also another case against him for violating the act, which is currently under consideration of the court," he said.
Sharan was first accused under KAAPA in June 2023. He became an accused in another case in November of the same year, resulting in the violation of the act. If he is implicated in one more case, he will be classified under KAAPA 3, prompting the police to begin procedures to expel him from the district.
The official also mentioned that the police will soon arrest Sudheesh, who is currently absconding. Police added that there was no security lapse at the event attended by Minister Veena George.
