Steephan Kayyar

Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod

Kasargod, Oct 5: In a significant development, the Kasaragod Sessions Court has acquitted BJP state president K Surendran and other accused in the Mangaluru Assembly election bribery case.

The case revolves around the alleged abduction of K Sundar, the BSP candidate for the Mangaluru constituency in the 2021 elections. Sundar was reportedly threatened to withdraw his nomination, with claims of a smartphone and Rs 2.5 lac being offered as bribes. The Badiyadka police had registered a case based on Sundar's complaint.

The district crime branch, led by DySP A Satish Kumar, conducted the investigation and submitted a chargesheet. Alongside Surendran, former state treasurer of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha Sunil Naik, ex-district BJP president K K Balakrishna Shetty, and other party leaders were also implicated.

This marks Surendran's first appearance in court regarding this case, alongside the other accused and the complainant, K Sundar. The court's ruling has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, highlighting the ongoing issues of election integrity in the region.