Date:01/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/01/stories/2008070155800400.htm

Kerala

Veerappa Moily exempted from appearing in court

Staff Reporter

Exemption for Moily

Kozhikode: The Kozhikode Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) on Monday exempted AICC general secretary M. Veerappa Moily from appearing in the court in connection with a case filed against him under the Representation of People Act at a police station in Kozhikode. CJM K.V. Gopikuttan admitted an affidavit moved through Mr. Moily’s lawyers P.M. Niyas and P.T. Rajesh under Section 205 (magistrate may dispense with personal attendance of accused) of the Criminal Procedure Code in this regard. The police registered a case against him based on a complaint filed by former District Collector Rachana Shah stating that he had violated Section 126 ( prohibition of public meetings during a period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for conclusion of poll) of the Representation of People Act. According to the charge-sheet, Mr. Moily, the then chairman of AICC Media Cell, held a news conference in the city on the eve of the Assembly polls on April 28, 2006.