Thiruvananthapuram: The judicial first class magistrate’s court here on Saturday registered a case against four UDF MLAs in connection with the ruckus in the state Assembly on March 13.
The court has asked the MLAs-- Sivadasan Nair, Dominic Presentation, A.T. George and M.A. Wahid--to appear before it on April 20, 2016.
The case was registered against Mr Sivadasan Nair and Mr Dominic Presentation on the basis of LDF MLA Jameela Prakasham’s complaint of their misbehaviour. She also said that she had bitten Mr Nair in retaliation.
The complaint against Mr A.T. George and Mr M.A. Wahid was filed by LDF MLA K.K. Lathika.
The cases are under IPC 354 for assault or criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty and under IPC 341 for wrongfully restraining any person.
Those held guilty under IPC 341 can be punished with simple imprisonment for one month or with fine up to Rs 500 while those found guilty under IPC 354 on first conviction can be jailed for a term which can extend to three years with fine.
Prior permission of the Speaker is not needed to register cases against MLAs and they can be arrested if found guilty if the Assembly is not in session.
Ms Prakasham and Ms Lathika had field their complaints in the court stating that though they had complained to the police and the Speaker’s office, no action was taken.
The court has taken cognizance of the complaints, recorded the statements of the MLAs and admitted the video CD of the day’s proceeding as evidence before registering the case.
Ms Prakasham told DC that she had petitioned the Speaker’s office on March 13 itself. She was forced to approach the court as the complaint was ignored. “I will go ahead with the case,” Ms Prakasham added.
The state Assembly witnessed unruly scenes that day as Left legislators, demanding the resignation of Finance Minister K.M. Mani, tried to block him while he began presenting the state budget for 2015-16.
The LDF MLAs threw the Speaker's chair from the podium and destroyed electronic equipment like computer, keyboard and mikes on the desk of the presiding officer.
Five LDF MLAs were suspended from the Assembly through a resolution following a complaint from the Assembly secretary. A case was also registered against LDF MLAs for the incidents inside the House.
