Thiruvananthapuram: A fine of Rs 1000 was levied on five people including a panchayat member in the case of VK Sreekanthan MP’s poster being put up on the Vande Bharat Express train. Attappadi Puthur panchayat member and Puthur constituency Congress president Anakal Senthil Kumar (31), Kullamala Perumpulli PM Hanifa (44), Naduvattam Azhakankandathil Muhammad Safal (19), Keezhaiyur Pulladan Muhammad Hashid (19) and Kootala Muttichira M Kishore Kumar (34) are accused in the poster case. They were arrested but later released. The Railway Court released the accused arrested by the Railway Security Force on bail.
Apart from collecting the fine, the five accused were kept in the court until the court adjourned. RPF identified the accused in the case through CCTV footage. The case was registered under sections 145C (bothering passengers), 166 (pasting posters on trains), trespassing on railway premises, etc. of the RPF Act.
VK Sreekanthan MP’s posters were pasted on the Vande Bharat train when it reached Shornur railway station. The video footage of this was also released. The MP had said that the poster was not put up with his knowledge or consent and that the BJP was spreading false propaganda on social media. The RPF posters were removed before the train left the station.
