Kerala’s Kasaragod court has recently sentenced Indian Union Muslim League leader and Manjeshwaram MLA A K M Ashraf to one year imprisonment in an over-a-decade-old criminal case.
At the time of the incident, Ashraf was a member of the district panchayat.
This verdict stems from a case dating back to January 2010, where Ashraf was involved in manhandling a Tehsildar over adding names to the electoral voter list.
Kasaragod Judicial First-Class Magistrate Abdul Basit was handed down the sentence along with a fine of Rs 20,000.
According to the prosecution, the Tehsildar was manhandled by Ashraf during the verification process of the application related to adding names to the voter list at the Manjeshwaram Block Panchayat Office.
Earlier, the court acquitted him of the charge of obstructing a public servant from performing his duty.
The one-year imprisonment will not impact Ashraf’s current position as an MLA. Only a conviction in a criminal case for a minimum of 2 years that would lead to the disqualification.
3 Muslim League activists Basheer, Abdullah, and Abdul Khader have also received identical sentences in the same case.
