Kochi:
Two CPI(M) leaders from Kannur surrendered before a court today in a case relating to murder of National Development Front worker Mohammed Fazal in 2006.
Karayil Rajan and Karayil Chandrasekharan surrendered before the chief judicial magistrate court in Kochi, which had yesterday issued non-bailable arrest warrants against them.
While Karayil Rajan is the Kannur district committee member RPT Kannur district committee member of CPI, Karayil Chandrasekaran is the Thiruvangad local committee member RPT Thiruvangad local committee member.
The court remanded them to 14-day judicial custody till July 5. The Kerala High Court had earlier rejected their anticipatory bail pleas.
The CBI, which is investigating the case, had earlier informed the court that the two were the main conspirators.
The prosecution case was that a group of assailants had attacked Fazal, a former CPI(M) worker who switched over to NDF, and killed him in Kannur district.
The conspiracy was hatched to do away with Fazal as he had shifted his allegiance from CPI(M) to NDF and attracted more Marxist workers to NDF, it was stated.
Rajan and Candrasekharan filed separate affidavits in Malayalam before the court, stating they had no knowledge about the murder and they did not know Fazal earlier.
Claiming that they are innocent, they said the CBI had questioned them earlier and they had nothing further to divulge.
Rajan alleged false evidence had been made out against him due to political pressure.
The two pleaded that they not be handed over to the police.
Since the Chief Judicial magistrate was on leave, the two were produced before the Additional CJM.