A new political storm has erupted in Kerala after the state government granted parole to two more convicts serving life sentences for the brutal murder of Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) leader T P Chandrasekharan. The decision has sparked allegations of undue leniency and political maneuvering.
Parole Granted Amidst Controversy
On Monday, the Prisons Department approved a 15-day parole for K K Mohammed Shafi and K Shinoj. Both men are incarcerated at Kannur Central Jail and are among the nine individuals convicted for the 2012 murder. This move comes shortly after another convict in the same case, T K Rajeesh, was given a 20-day parole last week. Notably, this was Rajeesh's second parole within just three months, having previously been released for 30 days starting August 1.
Officials from the department defended the decision, stating it was part of routine "ordinary parole" that eligible prisoners can avail up to four times a year. They clarified that prisoners are generally eligible for a total of 60 days of parole every 12 months.
Widow's Fury and Allegations of Bias
K K Rema, the slain leader's wife and now an RMP leader herself, launched a scathing attack on the state government. She accused the ruling CPI(M) of trying to secure the release of these convicts before the end of its current tenure. Rema questioned the consistency in applying parole rules.
"If prison authorities are saying that their parole is part of routine parole for prisoners, then why are other prisoners not getting such liberal paroles?" she asked. She firmly stated that this is part of the state government's stand of protecting the convicts and fulfilling the assurances it had provided to them.
Rema also brought up serious corruption allegations, referencing claims that DIG (Prisons) Vinod Kumar had accepted bribes from another convict in the case, Kodi Suni, for granting parole and providing special facilities. She said this highlighted the deplorable state of affairs within the prison system.
Legal Context and Political Fallout
The controversy is intensified by the legal severity of the sentences. In February 2024, the Kerala High Court had awarded life imprisonment to nine convicts without the possibility of remission for 20 years. This makes the frequent parole grants particularly contentious.
The opposition and Rema's RMP have seized upon the issue, alleging that the CPI(M)-led government is showing excessive sympathy towards the convicts, many of whom are alleged to have party links. The case has long been a flashpoint in Kerala's volatile political landscape, especially in the Kannur region.
The state government now faces mounting pressure to justify the parole decisions transparently. With the widow of the victim leading the charge and corruption allegations in the mix, this issue is set to dominate political discourse in the coming days, testing the administration's claim of impartiality in law enforcement.
