Thiruvanathapuram, Jan. 12 -- As Rahul Mamkootathil gets 14-day judicial custody, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Anoop Antony Joseph on Monday accused the Congress and the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) of "saving" the expelled Congress MLA.

He said that there was ample evidence against Mamkootathil. He also claimed that the ruling CPI(M) was "playing up the issue" to divert attention from the Sabarimala gold theft case.

"Everyone knows it very clearly, and there is ample evidence against Rahul Mamkootathil. Many people have given complaints. It is a very small and simple process to put him behind bars, but the CPM is not doing it because they want to play up this issue to divert attention from the Sabarimala issue. The ...