The Kerala High Court has dismissed a petition seeking police protection filed by Simi Bell Rose John, an expelled Congress leader, against Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and his brother V.D. Ajayakumar.
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas, presiding over the matter, observed that the petitioner did not produce any material to establish that her life or property was under threat from the fifth respondent, who at the time of filing the writ petition was the Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly and is currently the Chief Minister of Kerala, or from the fourth respondent, his brother.
The Court further noted that a police inquiry initiated on the basis of the petitioner’s complaint did not reveal any existing threat to her safety. It was stated in the police report that no serious instances of threat were found against Simi Bell Rose John.
The petitioner had alleged that she was expelled from the Congress party without valid or justifiable reasons, and that the expulsion was carried out at the instance of the Chief Minister. She claimed to be facing threats from the Chief Minister and his brother, and asserted that her son had been attacked in Delhi at their instance. She also referred to an attack on one of her associates.
However, the Court observed that the Inspector of Police, Ernakulam Town South Police Station, in a statement filed on record, clarified that the attack on her associate was due to a family dispute and that there were no records indicating any attack on her son. It was further noted that the petitioner did not disclose specific details regarding the alleged attack on her son.
The Court noted that no crime had been registered pursuant to the alleged attack against her son, and there was no material to connect the Chief Minister or his brother to any such incident.
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas remarked that, given the absence of any material to indicate a threat from the fourth or fifth respondents, and in light of the police enquiry that found no basis for such a claim, the Court was of the view that granting police protection was not proper.
The Court also observed that the circumstances suggested the possibility of a personal grudge against the Chief Minister, but emphasized that such suspicion, without corroborating evidence, could not form the basis for granting police protection.
After hearing the parties, the Court concluded that the plea lacked merit and dismissed the writ petition accordingly. The case is designated as WP(C) 15288/2026, titled Simi Bell Rose John v. State of Kerala and Ors.
Counsel for the petitioner appeared as V.R. Manoranjan from Muvattupuzha, while the respondents were represented by Sachin Ramesh, Special Government Pleader, along with Athul P., R. Sreehari, Sharannya P., and C.A. Beema Beevi.