Speech on political murders: Court dismisses case against MM Mani

MM Mani had said that he and the party made a list of their political rivals and killed them The court observed that the sections imposed on MM Mani will not stand legal scrutiny

The Thodupuzha First Class Judicial Magistrate Court observed that the sections imposed on Mani will not stand legal scrutiny and accepted the ministers's discharge petition. 

In the speech at Manakkad on 25 May 2012, the veteran CPM leader had said that he and the party made a list of their political rivals and killed them. Mani, who was CPM's Idukki district secretary at the time, was referring to the murders of Baby Ancheri, Muttukad Nanappan and Mullanchira Mathai.

The speech snowballed into a major controversy and a police case was registered with Mani as the first accused. He was charge with delivering a speech loaded with provocation and prompting riot. The incident also inspired a scene in the 2015 cult comedy 'Aadu Oru Bheekara Jeeviyanu', in which Indrans played Left front leader PP Sasi, based on MM Mani.

Mani found himself embrolied in another controversial speech last month, after he made derogatory speech against members of Penbilai Orumai, the women's plantation workers collective in Munnar.