Ex-Lakshadweep MP Welcomes Kerala Court Order, Terms Case As "Conspiracy"

Former Lakshadweep MP and Nationalist Congress leader (NCP) leader PP Mohammed Faizal on Friday welcomed the recent Kerala High High Court order suspending his conviction and sentencing of him and three others in a case of attempt to murder case.

"This was very much anticipated. I had full faith in the Kerala High Court. I was expecting a favourable order from the Court," Mr Faizal said after the verdict.

Mr Faizal alleged that this case was nothing but a political issue.

"It was a conspiracy. I was sent to jail on the part of the administration and Central Government," he alleged.

"Following my conviction, I was disqualified on January 13. By-elections were declared on January 14 in Lakshadweep. This was unprecedented. Never happened in Indian history," he said.

"Someone is interested in ousting me. Someone wanted to have an election conducted as soon as earlier so that he will not face any hindrance for his projects which is not suitable for the island," Mr Faizal alleged.

The Election Commission of India on Friday apprised the Supreme Court that the poll panel would take cognisance of the Kerala High Court order suspending the sentence of Mohammed Faizal and said that there would be no by-election in Lakshadweep.

After hearing the submission made by EC, a bench of justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna disposed of the petition filed by Mohammed Faizal challenging the ECI's press release announcing by-elections for the Lakshadweep constituency.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission apprised the court that it would abide by the order passed by the court. But the EC raised an objection to the petition and allegations levelled by Mohammed Faizal.

The Supreme Court was hearing a plea filed by Mohammed Faizal, challenging the ECI's press release announcing bye-elections for the constituency, after he was disqualified as a Member of Parliament from Lakshadweep, following his conviction in an attempt to murder case.

Recently Kerala High Court suspended the conviction and sentence of former Lakshadweep MP and Nationalist Congress leader (NCP) leader PP Mohammed Faizal and three others in a case of an attempt to murder.

Kerala HC passed the order on a plea of Mr Faizal and others challenging the trial court's order at Lakshadweep in an attempt to murder case. Faizal filed the application seeking to suspend the 10-year imprisonment.

Earlier, the Kavaratti Sessions Court had convicted four persons, including Faizal for committing offences punishable under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 143, 147, 148, 307, 324, 342, 448, 427, 506 read with 149 relating to offences relating to rioting, attempt to murder, violence, kidnapping.

They were all sentenced to undergo 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and were also directed to pay a fine of Rs 1 lakh each for attempting to murder Padanath Salih, the son-in-law of former Union Minister PM Sayeed in relation to a political controversy during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)