Thiruvananthapuram: Outspoken former Idukki district secretary of the Communist Party of India Marxist, M.M. Mani was yesterday served notice by the Kerala police to appear for a polygraph test. The test is in connection with Mani’s controversial speech earlier this year that his party had brutally eliminated some political rivals.
After some speculation whether or not Mani would accept the notice, the police were able to serve the notice on him at his home in Kunjithanni in Idukki district. The notice seeks to know his response on his willingness to undergo the polygraph test. Two others, Centre of Indian Trade Unions leader A.K. Damodaran and former CPM district committee member O.G. Madanan had earlier been served similar notices.
Mani said he would seek legal advice and consult his doctor before he responds to the notice served on him. The former CPM district secretary’s speech at Manakkad near Thodupuzha in May this year had been a shocker to the state, when he mentioned at least four instances of eliminating political rivals in the 1980s.
Following Mani’s revelation, police re-opened the murder case of Anchery Baby, and Mani was questioned regarding the case. Baby, who was a local Congress leader, was shot dead in 1982. The accused in the case had been acquitted for want of adequate proof. Exactly 30 years later the case has bounced back following Mani’s startling statement.
Following his statement, Mani lost his official party position in Idukki district, and now faces a long drawn-out legal battle to decide whether the contents of his controversial speech were true or not.
