Notice served to Pillai

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A Lok Ayukta division bench here on Thursday served notice to Kerala Congress supremo R Balakrishna Pillai, Home Secretary K Jayakumar and Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) Alexander Jacob to appear before the judicial forum on September 19 in connection with the premature release of Pillai from the Central Prison. The three  are the respondents in a petition filed before Lok Ayukta challenging the State Government’s decision to grant release to Pillai, who was sentenced by the Supreme Court for one year rigorous imprisonment in a graft case.The division bench comprising Justices K K Dinesan and M Pareed Pillai served the notice after hearing the preliminary contentions on the petition filed by Joy Kaitharath, the general secretary of State Human Rights Protection Centre. In his petition, Joy Kaitharath had alleged favouritism and nepotism on the part of respondents.