Kerala High Court Suspends Sentence of Geethanandan in Muthanga Case
· India · The Hindu, Hindustan Times
The Kerala High Court suspended the five-year rigorous imprisonment sentence of social activist M. Geethanandan and three others in Kochi on Friday. The case stems from the February 19, 2003, police action during the eviction of landless tribespeople at the Muthanga wildlife sanctuary in Wayanad. A trial court in Kalpetta had previously convicted the four individuals for the attempted murder of a senior civil police officer and the abduction of a forest range officer, alongside a fine of ₹36,000 each. Justice A. Badharudeen ordered the release of the convicts on bail after noting that the trial court relied on prima facie evidence rather than thorough scrutiny. The CBI stated it will file its own appeal to address flaws in the sessions court judgment.
Why it matters
The ruling provides legal relief to prominent social activists involved in historical tribal land struggles in Kerala while setting up a higher court review of the 2003 violence.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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