HC declines to quash chargesheet against former IG

Kochi Dec 7 (UNI) The Kerala High Court today declined to quash the chargesheet filed against former IG K Lakshmana in connection with the murder of Naxalite leader, Varghese.

Justice R Basanth declined the plea of the petitioner for quashing the chargesheet.

The Kerala High Court had in 1999 directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe into the alleged custodial murder of Naxalite leader, Varghese, which happened over 36 years ago.

P Ramachandran Nair, a retired CRPF constable confessed that he had, under threat to his own life from higher police officials, shot Varghese dead at 1855 hrs on February 18, 1970.

He had admitted that he shot dead Varghese in the Thirunelli forest in Wayanad at the instance of former Director General of Police Vijayan and former Inspector General of Police K Lakshmana.

The police officers were chargesheeted by the CBI before the magistrate court.

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