BJP councilor R. Sugathan suffered another setback as the KAAPA advisory committee upheld the six-month detention

R. Sugathan, a BJP councilor from Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, suffered another major setback after the KAAPA Advisory Committee upheld his six-month preventive detention under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA).

The board rejected his request to lift the detention order and confirmed that he will remain in custody for the full six months.

The accused is listed on Vattiyurkavu police’s tainted record and faces 19 criminal cases registered at Vattiyurkavu and Nedumangad police stations over the years. These include four counts of attempted murder, along with offenses including disorderly conduct, assault and intimidation. The police have already filed charges in 18 cases.

Despite these incidents, the BJP fielded Mr. Sugathan as its candidate from Vazhottukonam constituency in the last local body elections, where he was elected as a councillor.

He is currently lodged in Viyyur Central Jail. He will also remain barred from entering Thiruvananthapuram district for a period of six months’ detention in view of the advisory board’s decision.

While Mr. Sugathan’s other legal option is to approach the Kerala High Court, he will have to continue in jail if he fails to secure relief. In such a scenario, he also faces the possibility of losing his position as a councilor in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

The result also dealt a political setback for the BJP-led administration, which currently holds a slim majority with 51 councilors, including one independent member, in the 101-member council.

Moreover, the accused is the only councilor whose oath of office is still pending, while the other 19 councilors whose original pledge was invalidated due to violations have already been sworn in.

Under the Kerala Municipal Act, a councilor is disqualified if he does not attend three consecutive council meetings within a period of three months. He had already missed the last two meetings. If the accused cannot appear due to continued detention, he could lose his membership of the council.

Published – 8 Jul 2026 14:12 IST