Pathanamthitta: In a massive setback to the BJP, its Lok Sabha candidate in Kozhikode, K.P. Prakash Babu, was remanded for 14 days in jail in judicial custody after the First Class Judicial Magistrate in Ranni rejected his bail plea on Thursday.
He faced charges of attempted murder of a woman who entered Sabarimala during Atta Thirunal celebrations and criminal conspiracy.
Police had booked Mr Babu in eight cases during violent protests after the Supreme Court lifted age restrictions for women at the hill shrine. He was also declared as an absconder by the police earlier.
According to the police, a violent mob under Sabarimala Karma Samiti attacked the woman on November 5 saying she was of menstrual age.
BJP leaders K. Surendran, V.V. Rajesh, and Valsan Thillenkeri are also defendants in the case. Mr Babu is also the state president of Yuva Morcha.
He surrendered to obtain bail in the charged cases as it is mandatory for submitting the nomination for the Lok Sabha elections, which opened on Thursday and closes on April 4.
The candidate is in the Kottarakkara sub-jail now.
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