Kochi: Incarcerated BJP leader R Sugathan on Tuesday took oath of office as councillor of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation inside the Viyyur Central Prison in Thrissur as per High Court of Kerala’s direction.
Sugathan who is under preventive detention under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA), took oath inside
the prison library hall at 11 a.m.
Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V V Rajesh administered the oath of office, the Hindu reported.
The court had observed that “the democratic mandate of the electorate could not be defeated” merely because an elected representative was under preventive detention.
Sugathan was among 20 BJP councillors who had earlier been directed by the High Court to retake their oath.
While the remaining 19 councillors subsequently took the oath afresh, Sugathan was unable to do so as he had been detained under the KAAPA
Sugathan was arrested after a court denied him bail in a case relating to the alleged attempt to murder a man during a clash at a temple festival.
Sugathan takes oath in jail
