New Delhi:
Opposing the release of former minister and Kerala Congress (B) leader Balakrishna Pillai from jail, Kerala opposition leader VS Achuthanandan today moved the Supreme Court, challenging the early release.
Mr Pillai was sentenced to a jail term of one year by the Supreme Court in February in connection with the Idamalayar graft case.
Today he was released, along with 137 others, by the Congress government in Kerala before the completion of his jail term. Mr Pillai was released by the state government to commemorate the State Formation Day.
Mr Achuthanandan, in his petition, says the release of Mr Pillai is illegal and wants the court to intervene and send him back to jail. His petition says that Mr Pillai was sentenced to jail for one year but he spent only 69 days in jail and was on a parole for 75 days; till his release, Mr Pillai was in a five star hotel.
The petition also questions the grounds on which Mr Pillai was released. "He has been released for his good conduct which is totally incorrect. Pillai used cellphone inside jail and was penalised for that. How can such a person be released on good conduct?" says the petition.
Mr Achutanandan's petition also alleges Mr Pillai has been released for political reasons.