The trial in the 2015 Kerala Assembly ruckus case began on Tuesday at the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Thiruvananthapuram, more than 11 years after violent protests disrupted the presentation of the state budget on March 13, 2015. Six former legislators face prosecution over allegations of damaging public property inside the Assembly.

Source: Free Press Journal

The accused are former minister V Sivankutty, senior CPI(M) leader E P Jayarajan and former minister K T Jaleel, along with K Ajith, K Kunhammed and C K Sadasivan — all legislators at the time of the incident. The prosecution alleges that opposition Left Democratic Front legislators entered the Speaker's dais, overturned furniture and damaged computers, microphones and electrical equipment while attempting to prevent then Finance Minister K M Mani, who was facing allegations in the bar bribery controversy, from presenting the budget. Police estimated the damage to public property at Rs 2,20,093. The accused have disputed the allegations, and Jayarajan has previously alleged that the case was politically motivated — a defence position the trial court will now test against the evidence.

Opening day: witness identifies all six, CCTV discs produced

In a significant development on the opening day, key witness Shyama, a former assistant engineer who was on Assembly duty at the time of the incident, identified all six accused in the dock and told the court she had personally witnessed the former lawmakers damaging electronic devices inside the Assembly. She also confirmed recording footage from the eight CCTV cameras installed inside the Assembly onto DVD, and the discs produced in court were identified as containing the recording of the incident — evidence considered crucial to the prosecution case.

Source: The Hindu

A separate question arose over the testimony of P D Sarangadharan, who was Assembly secretary when the incident occurred and is the complainant and first prosecution witness. He has sought permission to testify online, saying he is unable to appear in person; the court is expected to rule on the request at its next hearing. The state government has appointed advocate Santhosh Kumar as special public prosecutor. The prosecution is expected to rely substantially on documentary evidence, eyewitness accounts and video recordings, and must establish the allegations against each accused individually.

Why the trial took 11 years to begin

The long delay was driven by litigation over whether the prosecution could proceed at all. The previous LDF government sought permission to withdraw the case; the Chief Judicial Magistrate rejected that request, the Kerala High Court declined to interfere, and in July 2021 the Supreme Court dismissed the government's appeal, holding that legislative privilege could not shield elected representatives from criminal prosecution for allegedly destroying public property. Discharge petitions by the accused were also dismissed along the way. The Museum police had registered the case after the disturbance, with charges relating to trespass, mischief and damage to public property. The trial will now proceed with further witness examination.