On January 11, a sessions court in Kavaratti had convicted four persons, including Faizal, for attempting to murder Padanath Salih, the son-in-law of former Union Minister and Indian National Congress leader, PM Sayeed, in relation to a political controversy during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.
All four accused were effectively sentenced to undergo 10 years of rigorous imprisonment by the trial court.
The very next day, on January 12, the four convicts moved an appeal before the High Court. They also filed applications to suspend their conviction and sentence and release them on bail during the pendency of their appeal.
The Kerala High Court, on January 25, suspended the conviction and sentence imposed by the trial court prompting the present appeal before the apex court.
After the trial court had convicted Faizal, he was disqualified from holding the office of MP.
Subsequently, the Election Commission (EC) had also notified bye-elections to his constituency. However, Faizal had then moved the Supreme Court challenging the EC’s announcement.
The Supreme Court had disposed of that plea on January 27 after the EC assured the top court that it will act in line with the Kerala High Court order suspending the conviction.
Source: Barandbench
