R. Sugathan, a BJP councillor of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation in Kerala, has suffered another major setback after the KAAPA advisory board upheld his six-month preventive detention under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA).
The board rejected his plea to revoke the detention order, and confirmed that he will remain in custody for the full six-month period.
The accused is listed on the Vattiyurkavu police’s rowdy history sheet and is facing 19 criminal cases registered in the Vattiyurkavu and Nedumangad police stations over the years. These include four cases of attempted murder, along with offences including rioting, causing hurt and criminal intimidation. The police have already filed chargesheets in 18 of the cases.
Despite these cases, the BJP fielded Mr. Sugathan as its candidate from the Vazhottukonam ward in the last local body elections, where he was elected as councillor.
He is presently lodged in Viyyur Central Jail. In view of the advisory board’s decision, he will also remain barred from entering Thiruvananthapuram district for the duration of the six-month detention period.
While Mr. Sugathan’s next legal option is to approach the Kerala High Court, he will have to continue in prison if he fails to secure relief. In such a scenario, he also faces the possibility of losing his position as a councillor in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.
The outcome has also dealt a political setback for the BJP-led administration, which presently holds a slender majority with 51 councillors, including one Independent member, in the 101-member council.
Besides, the accused is the only councillor, whose oath of office is still pending, while 19 other councillors, whose initial oath-taking had been invalidated over violations, have already been sworn in again.
Under the Kerala Municipality Act, a councillor becomes disqualified if they fail to attend three consecutive council meetings over a period of three months. He has already missed the last two meetings. If the accused is unable to attend because of his continued detention, he could lose his council membership.
Published – July 08, 2026 02:12 pm IST
