Judicial custody for men who travelled with murdered Muthoot scion

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Two alleged criminals who are suspected to have travelled with Paul M. George - scion of Kerala’s Muthoot business group - the night he was murdered were sent to two weeks of judicial custody by a court here Thursday.

The judge sent Om Prakash and P. Rajesh to two weeks of judicial custody but told their counsel they could move a bail application Monday. The two had surrendered before a court in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, a day earlier and were brought to the Central Jail here amid heavy security.

While Rajesh remained grim, Prakash was seen waving his hand and nodding his head. Police say Prakash is an accused in 17 criminal cases while Rajesh is allegedly involved in 25 cases.

George, 32, was killed Aug 21 midnight near Alappuzha while he was travelling with the two, but they escaped and were on the run.

The Congress as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have cried foul over the manner in which the case is being investigated. They have alleged that police are under duress because of the alleged links between Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s son Bineesh Kodiyeri and the two and that is why they had not been arrested.

Police had a tough time controlling hundreds of people and a battery of news photographers who were present at the court premises here Thursday.

K. Surendran, president of the youth wing of the state BJP who had come with a large number of supporters near the court premises, said police were playing a game.

“Who does not know that all this is a stage-managed affair that has been scripted and directed by police? Their surrender in a court in Tamil Nadu in another case tells the tale of how police are handling this case,” said Surendran.