SIT report says charges against KSU activists in Veena George case cannot be sustained

SIT finds no grounds to sustain charges of rioting, wrongful restraint and trespass; says black flag protest is not a criminal offence; final report says KSU activists did not obstruct police or wrongfully restrain former Health Minister

Published - November 04, 2026 02:02 am IST - KANNUR

The SIT also found that former Health Minister Veena George had not been wrongfully restrained by the protesters. File photo

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has submitted its final report to the court, stating that the charges levelled against Kerala Students Union (KSU) activists in connection with the alleged attack on former Health Minister Veena George at Kannur railway station cannot be sustained.

The SIT found that the protesters had not committed the offences alleged in the original chargesheet and stated that waving black flags as a form of protest did not constitute a criminal offence.

The final report was submitted by SIT chief U. Preman before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Kannur. The investigation team concluded that the protesters had not committed offences such as rioting, wrongful restraint, obstructing public servants from discharging their official duties or criminal trespass on railway premises.

The charge of attempted murder, which was initially included in the first information report, was subsequently dropped by the first investigation team while filing the chargesheet.

According to the SIT report, the responsibility of the police personnel accompanying Veena George was to prevent the protesters from approaching her. However, the protesters did not obstruct the police from discharging their official duties. Instead, the police stopped those waving black flags. The SIT also found that the Minister had not been wrongfully restrained by the protesters.

The report further stated that the protesters had entered the railway station after purchasing valid platform tickets. Therefore, the charge of trespassing on railway premises was not sustainable. The SIT also cited court observations that black flag protests did not constitute a criminal offence.

Meanwhile, the SIT had earlier submitted a separate report to the Director General of Police, recommending action against Veena George’s former gunman, Abhilash, for allegedly giving a false statement, as well as against officials who had allegedly failed to conduct the preliminary investigation properly.

The court will now decide on further proceedings based on the final report submitted by the SIT.

Published - November 04, 2026 02:02 am IST

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