Govt’s appeal in Salim Raj’s case, stay on single bench verdict

KOCHI: The division bench of the Kerala High Court imposed a stay on the single bench’s verdict directing to produce the phone details of Salim Raj, gunman of the chief minister, in connection with the solar fraud case. The division bench imposed the stay while considering the plea of the government against the verdict of the single bench.

Justice V K Mohanan ordered to impound the phone details after a plea was filed by Premachand R Nair and two others stating the accused bribed and compelled the Kadakampaly village officer and other revenue officials to forge false documents including false thandaper for the purpose of defeating the claim of the petitioners over 12.27 acres land. The petitioners alleged that Salim Raj and others misused their official position and their political influence to cheat them. They alleged that original documents of the land with the revenue department were destroyed by officials in the village office, possibly at Salim Raj’s behest.

The government plea pointed out that the civil case happened more than 20 years before and is impossible to produce such documents.

AG informed the court that confiscating phone details is like impinging on one’s freedom. The division bench passed the order approving this argument of the government.

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