Idukki:  Former CPI (M) Idukki district secretary M.M. Mani appeared at the office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy.SP) here on Wednesday for answering questions in connection with his audacious claims that his party had murdered four political foes.

M.M. Mani, who was summoned to appear before the probe team, had on Monday failed to turn up here for questioning, and the police team probing him made it clear that the law would take its course. Police had served a virtual ultimatum to Mani yesterday after he failed twice to respond to notices to appear at the DySP office here for questioning.

The Kerala High Court had dismissed his petition seeking to quash FIRs registered against him over his controversial remarks. Two days ago Mani's lawyers had told the police team that the CPI(M) leader would not be personally appearing for questioning as he was planning to move the Supreme Court against the High Court order. The police, however, turned down the plea and made it clear that they would go ahead with the due procedures in the matter.

Following his controversial speech, the police had registered a case under Section 120(b) (murder conspiracy) and section 118 (concealing the design to commit the crime) of the Indian Penal Code against M.M. Mani.

After his public utterances brought huge embarrassment to the CPI-M, he was removed as Idukki district secretary by the state committee.