Kochi: Top Maoist leader Ropeesh and wife Shyna were produced before the Ernakulam additional sessions court (CBI/NIA) amid tight security on Wednesday and were remanded in judicial custody till June 10.
The Internal Security Investigation Team(ISIT) probing the duo for arranging a hideout for Maoist Central Committee member Malla Raja Reddy and wife Beecha Suganna in Perumbavoor in 2007, filed a petition before the court seeking their custody for 15 days.
However, Additional District Sessions judge (CBI/NIA) M Nandakumar decided to hear the prosecution and defence arguments over the police custody plea on Friday. The duo was sent to Kakkanad district jail.
The duo were brought to Kochi from Coimbatore Central Jail by road. The police bus was accompanied by a convoy of commandos and armed police men. The team left Coimbatore around 11.30 am and arrived at Kochi by 3.30 pm.
More than 100 armed policemen were in position besides the bomb and dog squads on the court premises. The public were let in only after thorough screening.
While being taken to the court, Roopesh was heard shouting slogans‚ “Land and title deeds be given to adivasis...armed struggle at Western Ghats not ended....Justice be done to the people of Kathikulam...”
The judge allowed the couple’s plea to meet their elder daughter Ami at the courtyard. "Ropeesh told me the police threatened to kill them in fake encounters during evidence collection in forest. Shyna said she had revealed nothing to cops,” Ami said.
The case against the duo was that Ropeesh rented a house at Perumbavoor by making fake agreement in the name of one Sumesh on August 30, 2007, to facilitate a hideout for Malla Raja Reddy and wife Beecha Suganna.
The latter were wanted in murder and several other cases in AP. The police suspects that this was to extend Maoist activities in Kerala. Reddy and wife were arrested by AP police in 2007, following which Roopesh and Shyna allegedly destroyed pamphlets and computer at the rented house.
