5 BJP activists convicted by Kerala HC in 2015 murder of JD(U) leader
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Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Thursday convicted five BJP activists in connection with the 2015 murder of Janata Dal (United) leader PG Deepak in Cherpu, Thrissur. This verdict comes after the Thrissur Additional Sessions Court had previously acquitted 10 BJP workers involved in the case.
On March 24, 2015, five individuals intercepted Deepak while he was on his way home after closing the shop where he worked. They brutally hacked him to death, TNIE reported.
Two others who were with Deepak during the attack suffered severe injuries. Deepak, who had originally been with the BJP, later joined the JD(U) and rose to the position of mandalam secretary in Nattika, Thrissur. He had also been encouraging other BJP members to switch to the JD(U).
In 2017, the trial court acquitted all the accused due to discrepancies in eyewitness testimonies. However, in 2020, both the state government and Deepak's family appealed the acquittal in the Kerala High Court.
After reviewing the evidence, a division bench consisting of Justice PB Suresh Kumar and Justice Jobin Sebastian found five BJP activists guilty, while acquitting five others. The convicted individuals are Rishikesh, Nijin, Prasanth, Rasanth, and Brashnev. Those acquitted are Sivadas, Ragesh, Baiju, Sanandh, and Sarasan.
The court has instructed the police to present the convicted individuals before it on April 8 for a sentencing hearing. Police officials noted that Rishikesh, the first accused, is currently abroad, while two other convicted individuals are already in jail for a separate criminal case.