Kerala HC denied pre-arrest bail to local CPI(M) leader

Kochi: Kerala High Court on Monday rejected the anticipatory bail application of a local CPI(M) leader, who has been named as an accused in a criminal case, and directed him to surrender.

Justice P Ubaid asked petitioner Zakir Hussain, who has been booked on the charge of threatening a man over a business deal, to surrender before the investigating officer within a week.

The Judge directed the police to produce Hussain before the magistrate court after interrogation and said the magistrate should consider his bail application in accordance with law.

Hussain, whose whereabouts were not known since registration of the criminal case against him, had moved the high court after a sessions court dismissed his anticipatory bail application.

A case under non-bailable section has been registered by police on a complaint sent to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by victim Jube Poulose of Ernakulam here.

In his complaint, Poulose had alleged that he was forcibly taken to a place by a gang, where Hussain threatened him with dire consequences over the business deal.

CPI(M) has removed Hussain from the post of party's Kalamassery Area Secretary. However, he has been retained as member of the party's district committee.