I am downgraded, laments AG in court

KOCHI: Three days after his controversial statement created a political furore in the State, Advocate General K P Dandapani on Tuesday said that he had been subjected to a media trial in the Mullaperiyar issue. He was submitting grievances before the High Court. “I was humiliated, harassed and downgraded. The public even burnt me in effigy in front of the High Court. I could not move around. Comments were made against me, as if a third World War broke out. I was just answering the queries of the court,” Dandapani submitted at a thickly-packed court room.A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice P R Ramachandra Menon observed that the HC did not find any defects in the submissions of the AG. “He was only submitting the facts before the court. It was unfortunate that such things happened. Everybody should stand united and support the interests of the State. AG did his best and he is trying to clear the doubts of the Bench,” the court said. The Advocate General further submitted that due to the media trial the State may not be able to argue the case.