india π Govt must explain Palathayi bail handling, says Ragesh
CPI(M) secretary K. K. Ragesh claimed the prosecution handled the Palathayi POCSO case with undue laxity after the government change. The Kerala High Court on August 20 suspended life sentence and granted bail to former BJP leader K. Padmarajan. He was convicted by the Fast-Track Special Court, Thalassery, in November 2025 for assaulting a ten-year-old in January-February 2020. Ragesh alleged the appeal was advanced unfairly, suggesting potential collusion benefiting Padmarajan. The survivor's family plans to file a memorandum seeking an appeal against the High Court's order. π