HC stays proceedings on BJP Kerala chief's discharge in poll bribery case

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday stayed further proceedings in connection with the discharge of BJP state president K Surendran and five others by a sessions court from the Manjeshwaram election bribery case. Justice K Babu admitted the criminal revenue petition moved against the sessions court's October 5 order by the state government. "Admit. Further proceedings stayed. Post on November 8," the High Court said. On October 5, Surendran and the others were discharged by Kasaragod Sessions Judge Sanu S Panicker. The sessions judge, allowing the discharge plea of the accused, had said that the first accused -- Surendran -- was discharged of the offences under various provisions of the IPC and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (prevention of atrocities) Act 1989. "Since the first accused is discharged of the alleged offences, I do not find any grounds to proceed against the other accused also. Hence, they are also discharged of all the alleged offences," the sessions court ha