CPM Idukki district secretary M.M. Mani has submitted a letter before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing his speech over political murders, saying he cannot appear before the team on Wednesday.
In the letter, submitted before the investigation officer, Mani said the murder case charged against him had no legal validity.
The letter was brought to the Thodupuzha DySP office by Mani’s lawyers at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, but the officer, SP Prakash, was not present.
The three lawyers returned to the DySP office at 11 a.m. and submitted the letter. The SIT had asked Mani to appear before it at 11 am on Wednesday.
According to sources, Mani got legal opinion that he need not have to appear before the SIT as he had moved HC for quashing the cases. In his plea, Mani alleged that the FIR was prepared in the capital at the instance of the chief minster and the home minister.
Meanwhile in a surprise move Mani sought police protection for Mohandas who came out as witness against him in the Anchery Baby murder case.
In a fax sent to Idukki Superintendent of Police (SP), Mani said that he feared for the life of Mohandas who was the former Santhanpara area secretary of the CPM. Mani said that he was seeking police protection for Mohandas in the light of the TPC murder.