The Thiruvananthapuram Principal District and Sessions Court on Tuesday came down heavily on the prosecution over the delay in filing the chargesheet in a case alleging an attempt to attack Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on board a flight in 2022.
The court questioned why the chargesheet had not been filed even three years after the incident. The prosecution informed the court that the delay was due to the lack of sanction from the Central government. However, the explanation was found to be unsatisfactory.
The observations were made while considering a petition filed by the first accused, Farzeen Majeed, seeking permission to renew his passport.
The incident occurred on June 13, 2022, during a flight from Kannur to Thiruvananthapuram, when Youth Congress activists staged a protest against the Chief Minister inside the aircraft, accusing him of having involvement in the diplomatic baggage gold smuggling case. Senior CPI(M) leader and then Left Democratic Front (LDF) convener E.P. Jayarajan, who had accompanied Mr. Vijayan and blocked the protesters, described the protest as “an act of terror”.
Four Congress workers, including the then Youth Congress State vice-president K.S. Sabarinadhan, were accused in the case. The police registered the case on the charge that the accused attempted to assassinate the Chief Minister inside the aircraft. The chargesheet was sent to the Central government for approval since prior sanction is required under provisions of the Aircraft (Security) Rules. However, the Centre is yet to grant approval.
Published – February 03, 2026 08:17 pm IST
