The CBI on Thursday named CPI(M) strongman P Jayarajan as “principal conspirator” in the murder of an RSS functionary in Kannur district three years ago, and charged him under the stringent UAPA Act for the killing, which it described as a “terrorist act”.
In its supplementary final report filed before the court of the Special Judge-III, Ernakulam, the Special Crime Branch of the CBI Thiruvananthapuram unit, which probed the case, said the September 1, 2014 killing was “a well-conspired, planned and well-organised political murder.”
Describing as “terrorist act” the “brutal” killing of 42-year-old Elanthottathil Manoj, also known as Kathirur Manoj, the CBI charged Jayarajan under various sections including Sections 18 and 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
Jayarajan, who is also charged under various sections of the IPC including 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), is the 25th accused in the case.
“P Jayarajan, who is the principal conspirator, had entered into criminal conspiracy with first accused Vikraman to execute killing of Elanthottathil Manoj in a brutal and terrorising manner,” the report said.
“Jayarajan used Vikraman as a tool to execute killing by organising professional killers, lethal weapons and bombs at the field level,” it said.
In the report, the CBI alleged that the duo entered into a conspiracy to murder Manoj to avenge the attack on Jayarajan nearly two decades ago.
They entered into a conspiracy to murder Manoj “in a terrorising manner with a view to send terror messages to other RSS activists in Kannur and to create terror in public,” the CBI alleged.
In January last year, the CBI had listed Jayarajan as an accused.
The CBI, which took over the investigation in the case, had filed a charge-sheet against 19 accused in the Thalassery court last year. Jayarajan and five others were arraigned as accused in the case later.
Jayarajan surrendered in the court on February 12, 2016 after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the High Court. He was released on bail on March 22, last year.