The Tiruvananthapuram Corporation Council approved, on July 31, the six-month leave application filed by BJP councillor R. Sugatan, who has been jailed under the KAPA (Kerala Anti-social Activities (Prevention) Act). Mayor V.V. Rajesh informed the media that Sugatan’s leave application was approved with 51 votes and was supported by two independent councillors, Sudhesh and Pattoor Radhakrishnan.
Following the decision, opposition INDI Alliance members belonging to the UDF (Congress-led United Democratic Front) and the LDF (Left Democratic Front) entered the well of the House and staged a protest.
Under Section 91 of the Kerala Municipality Act, 1994, a councillor who abstains from three consecutive council meetings without permission is liable to be disqualified. By granting six months’ leave to Sugatan, the ruling NDA/BJP has managed to avert the INDI Alliance’s attempt to topple the administration. The Kerala Municipality Act allows councillors to be granted leave for up to six months with the Council’s approval.
R. Sugatan had sent a letter to the Mayor requesting leave since he was in jail. The Municipal Act permits a councillor to be granted leave for six months.
Sugatan was arrested on the night of June 9 based on what are described as fabricated cases. He was arrested while spending time with his wife and children. Police allegedly barged into his house and fired in the air to create panic. They also allegedly pointed a gun at the children. Since then, he has been in jail.
Usually, the KAPA (Kerala Anti-social Activities (Prevention) Act) is clamped on people accused in cases related to drugs, the sand mafia, robbery, murder, and other serious offences. It is also invoked against those accused in three cases or those involved in serious crimes.
However, KAPA cannot be clamped on the accused in suo motu cases. Therefore, it is alleged that the number of cases was increased by persuading UDF and LDF workers to file more complaints against Sugatan.
The CPM and LDF ruled the state until May 18, 2026, for ten years. No non-CPM individuals had filed any complaints against R. Sugatan. The number of cases against him increased after CPM’s V.K. Prashant was elected to the Assembly. Thereafter, there was a flood of complaints.
The Mayor read out the circular issued by the Home Department in support of the Council’s decision. He said that no councillor would be disqualified. In the history of the Corporation Council, all applicants had been granted leave. The BJP has never opposed the leave application of any councillor in the past.
