THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A case has been registered against SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan for his controversial statement on the assistance offered by the government to the family of auto driver Noushad who died in a rescue bid during the drainage tragedy in Kozhikode last week.
The Aluva police registered the case under Indian Penal Code section 153-A that deals with acts that promote enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and affects communal harmony. It could attract imprisonment up to three years and fine and is non-bailable.
The statement of Mr Vellapally that the government's swift offer of financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh and job to Noushad’s wife was because he was a Muslim has landed him in trouble.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala told reporters here that the decision to register a case was taken on the basis of legal opinion.
“On the basis of a couple of petitions to initiate legal action against Vellapally, the government sought the opinion of the director-general of prosecutions and decided to register a case against him,” he said.
Various leaders had flayed Mr Vellapally’s statement, including Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan and CPM leader Pinarayi Vijayan.
Mr Chennithala also said that the Crime Branch had launched a probe into the allegations against Mr Vellapally with regard to the micro-finance funds.
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