Kannur (Kerala), Nov 25: V.K. Nishad, the CPI-M candidate contesting from Ward 46 of Kerala’s Payyannur Municipality, now faces a serious legal roadblock to becoming a people’s representative after a court here on Tuesday sentenced him to 20 years in prison in an over-decade-old bomb attack case.

If he wins the upcoming local body polls, his ability to assume office will be severely restricted due to this conviction.

The Thaliparamba Additional District Sessions Court sentenced Nishad and fellow CPI-M worker T.C.V. Nandakumar to 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 2.5 lakh each.

However, the court observed that serving 10 years would be sufficient to execute the sentence.

The verdict has sent shockwaves through local political circles, particularly as Nishad is actively campaigning as the CPI-M-backed LDF nominee.

The case dates back to August 1, 2012, when police personnel were reportedly targeted with country-made bombs in Payyannur town.

The attack occurred following heightened tensions over the arrest of senior CPI-M leader P. Jayarajan in connection with the Shuhaib murder case.

According to the prosecution, Nishad and his associates hurled bombs at the police with the intent to kill, prompting charges under IPC Section 307 (attempt to murder) and Sections 3 and 4 of the Explosive Substances Act.

The court, presided over by Additional Sessions Judge K.N. Prashanth, held both accused guilty of attempted murder and illegal use of explosive materials.

The judge noted that the attack was not merely an act of protest, but a deliberate attempt to cause grievous harm to law enforcement officers.

With the local elections approaching, the ruling has thrown up a serious dilemma for the LDF camp.

If Nishad secures a win, legal and procedural challenges could prevent him from officially taking charge as a municipal councillor due to disqualification norms linked to criminal convictions.

As the political and legal ramifications unfold, Payyannur and Kerala watch closely.

Kochi, Nov 25: A Kerala court on Tuesday announced that it will pronounce its verdict on December 8 in the sensational 2017 actress abduction and assault case, in which popular Malayalam actor Dileep stands as the eighth accused, charged with criminal conspiracy.

The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court has directed all 10 accused to be present in the Court on December 8.

Dileep was arrested and spent several weeks in jail before getting bail in 2017.

The case stems from one of the most shocking incidents in Kerala’s recent history.

On February 17, 2017, a leading Malayalam actress was abducted and sexually assaulted inside a moving car while travelling from a film set in Thrissur to Kochi.

The prime accused, Sunil Kumar alias Pulsar Suni, was arrested soon after, along with his close associates, all alleged to be part of the assault plan.

After spending seven years in jail, Suni was recently granted bail by the Supreme Court.

Investigators state that Suni had been working on film shooting sets as a driver since 2010 and had known Dileep personally.

According to the police charge sheet, Dileep allegedly harboured deep personal resentment against the actress, accusing her of informing his former wife about his alleged relationship with another actor — a development that reportedly caused friction and led to marital upheaval.

The prosecution claims this strained personal equation led to a conspiracy, with Dileep purportedly seeking revenge by using Suni and his associates to intimidate and humiliate the actress.

Dileep, however, has consistently denied all allegations, claiming he has been framed.

The case, unprecedented for its combination of cinema and crime, has seen prolonged legal proceedings, high-stakes witness testimonies, multiple forensic examinations, allegations of evidence tampering, and intense media scrutiny over the years.

As the court moves toward the long-awaited verdict, the Malayalam film industry, legal observers, and the public are preparing for a judgment that could have far-reaching implications not just for the high-profile accused but for questions of justice, accountability, and the rights of survivors in India’s entertainment sector.

Davanagere (Karnataka), Nov 25: In a development raising serious concerns, two Karnataka Police Sub-Inspectors are among the four persons arrested in connection with a gold robbery case in the state’s Davanagere district on Tuesday.

The incident was reported from the KTJ Nagar police station limits in Davanagere city.

The arrested police officers have been identified as Malappa Chippalakatti and Praveen Kumar, both of whom were serving at the IGP’s office. The other two accused, Sathish Revanakar and Nagaraj Revanakar, worked as assistants at a gold shop in Davanagere city.

The arrests were made based on a complaint filed by Vishwanath Arkasali, a gold businessman from Karwar.

According to police, Vishwanath, who buys gold from merchants in Davanagere and makes jewellery for them, had arrived at the Davanagere bus stop carrying 80 grams of gold. He had purchased gold and rings on Monday and was travelling from the Davangere bus stand to Hubballi around midnight, and was later scheduled to proceed to Karwar as part of his business routine.

However, after receiving information from the other accused, the sub-inspectors, allegedly posing as members of the IG Squad, reportedly showed their police identity cards, grabbed him by the collar, pulled him down, threatened him with a fake gun, and took him away in a car. They drove near the KTJ Nagar police station but did not go inside. Instead, they snatched the gold from the victim, dropped him near the Davanagere bus stop and fled.

Following the complaint, KTJ Nagar police took the matter seriously as policemen were involved in the crime. They investigated the case, identified the accused and arrested them. All four have been sent to judicial custody, and police have seized the car used in the offence. Further investigation is underway.

Earlier, the role of a serving police constable, believed to be the key planner of the Rs 7.11 crore daring daylight robbery, had come out in the open from Bengaluru. The accused, Annappa Naik of the Govindapura police station, was arrested along with Xavier, a former employee of Cash Management Services (CMS). According to investigators, the pair had meticulously prepared for the robbery for over six months after Xavier left the company.

Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara had warned that any police personnel involved in criminal activities would be dismissed from service without mercy. He also stated that he had instructed senior officers to maintain strict vigilance in this regard.