Lakshadweep MP sentenced to ten years in prison for attempted murder, faces disqualification
A Lakshadweep court sentenced four persons, including Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal, to ten years in prison on Wednesday after they were found guilty in an attempted murder case.
The convicts were also fined Rs one lakh apiece by Kavaratti Sessions Judge K Anilkumar for attempting to assassinate Mohammed Salih, son-in-law of late Congress leader and former Union Minister P M Sayeed, during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. All of the defendants are related.
“This court has already determined that the defendants intended to murder Mohammed Salih but were unable to do so. In fact, the accused attempted to assassinate Salih only for political reasons, according to the court. According to official sources, the inmates were later transported to Kerala and lodged in the Kannur Central Jail.
Before being arrested, Faizal told PTI that the case was “politically driven” and that he would submit an appeal with the Kerala High Court soon.
“Accused Nos. 1 to 4 are convicted and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for ten years each and a fine of Rs one lakh each in default of payment of fine to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year each for committing the offence punishable under Section 307 of the IPC with Section 149 of the IPC,” the court stated. In the case, 37 people were charged.
According to legal experts, the verdict has placed a shadow over Faizal’s political future, as he faces disqualification as a result of his conviction and 10-year sentence in the criminal case. In its decision in the Lily Thomas vs Union of India case on 10 July 2013, the Supreme Court decided that any MP, MLA, or Member of a Legislative Council (MLC) guilty of a felony and sentenced to a minimum of two years in jail loses membership in the House with immediate effect.
According to the prosecution, the Lakshadweep MP and 36 other defendants, as well as some other identified persons, committed rioting and voluntarily caused harm to Salih after illegally confining him and his friend Mohammed Kassim at a location on Androth island.
Three accused, including Faizal, chased Salih when he tried to flee the scene, forced open the chamber where he had sought refuge, and mercilessly manhandled him with hazardous weapons such as a sword stick, chopper, iron rod, rafters, and sticks, according to the complaint.
According to a crucial prosecution witness in the case, the accused destroyed practically all of the household items housed in Kadeejummabi’s home.
severely injured Salih, the son-in-law of late Congress leader and former Union minister P M Sayeed, was flown in a chopper to Ernakulam in Kerala for better medical care, according to the prosecution.
They were attacked when they arrived at the location for interfering in a political matter during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.
The court ruled that because Faizal, the second accused in the case, is a serving MP, notification must be made to the Lok Sabha Speaker in compliance with Rule 229 and 230 of the Lok Sabha Rules.
The court ordered that a copy of the intimation be endorsed to the Union Home Ministry and a telegram be sent to the Lok Sabha Speaker in accordance with the Rules. The court further ordered that a copy of the judgement be emailed to the Speaker and the Union Home Ministry.
In the case, Salih was represented by advocate Ajit G Anjarlekar. The special prosecutor was K A Jibin Joseph.
The court stated in its judgement that implementation of proper punishment is how the courts respond to society’s cry for justice against criminals.
“Justice mandates that courts should impose punishment matching the offence so that the courts reflect popular abhorrence of the conduct. “When assessing appropriate punishment, the courts must consider not just the rights of the offender, but also the rights of the victim of the crime and society at large,” it stated.
