With the assembly elections around the corner, the Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed the CBI to produce records of the RSS leader Elamthottathil Manoj’s murder case while hearing a petition filed by CPI (M) Kannur district secretary P Jayarajan seeking anticipatory bail in the case.

In response the counsel representing CBI sought time from the court. The next hearing will be on February 8.   

 The New Indian Express reports a division bench comprising Justice K T Sankaran and Justice K P Jyothindranath issued the order after Jayarajan challenged the Thalassery Sessions Court order which dismissed his bail plea.

On January 21, the central agency named the CPI (M) leader as the 25th accused and booked him under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act after the local court in Thalassery rejected this bail plea.

Jayarajan in his petition had stated he was suffering from various physical ailments, allegedly due to injuries sustained in attacks by activists of the BJP and RSS.

Jayarajan had said there is no prima facie material available with the CBI against him for attracting offences under the UAP Act. 

Previously, the senior leader had been denied bail thrice in connection with the same case.

He had avoided questioning by the investigating agency accusing the BJP of carrying out a political vendetta against him in this case.

RSS leader Elamthottathil Manoj was murdered on September 1, 2014 at Ukkas Motta in East Kathiroor in Kannur district.

In 1999, Manoj had allegedly assaulted Jayarajan for political reasons. Because of this, the CBI believes that Manoj’s murder was an act of revenge.