Kochi: A Kerala court on Wednesday granted bail to state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief K. Surendran and five local leaders of the party in connection with an election bribery case.
The case has now been posted for November 15.
The Kasargod district and sessions court had taken a strong view after the leaders failed to appear before it on two previous occasions. But on Wednesday Surendran and the other accused remained present before the court.
As the prosecution failed to oppose the bail pleas of Surendran and others, it became easy for them and bail was granted.
The case was based on a petition filed by CPI(M) leader V.V. Rameshan, an LDF candidate from Manjeswaram constituency during the April 2021 Assembly elections.
According to the petitioner, the BJP leaders allegedly paid money, gave mobile phones, and promised other favours to BSP candidate K. Sundara to withdraw his nomination from Manjeswaram during the elections.
When votes were counted, Surendran came a close second to the Congress-led UDF candidate who won the election by a margin of 745 votes.
The probe police team, which has submitted its preliminary report, included charges under the SC/ST Act, besides others which included bribery to sabotage elections.
With inputs from IANS