Kerala HC allows KAAPA accused BJP councillor R. Sugathan to take oath in Viyyur jail

The Kerala High Court on Monday (July 13, 2026) allowed R. Sugathan, councillor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation who is under six-month preventive detention under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA), to take his oath of office inside the Viyyur Central Prison in Thrissur on Tuesday (July 14, 2026.)

The oath is to be arranged by the Superintendent of Viyyur Central Prison and administered by the Mayor of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation at 11 a.m. The court also stated that accredited mediapersons should be allowed to participate in the ceremony. 

Mr. Sugathan was among the 20 BJP councillors who had been directed by the High Court to retake their oaths after they had violated procedure during the original ceremony by using the names of local deities. Nineteen councillors retook their oaths, but Mr. Sugathan was detained at the time and was not able to attend the ceremony. 

The police had registered 19 criminal cases against Mr. Sugathan in the Vattiyurkavu and Nedumangad police stations over the years, involving offences such as attempted murder, rioting, criminal intimidation and causing hurt.