Muthoot murder: Judicial custody for two co-travellers

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

Judge K.K. Sujatha of the Vanchiyoor Additional Assistant Sub-court sent Om Prakash and P. Rajesh to two weeks of judicial custody but said they could move a bail application Monday.

While Rajesh remained grim in court, 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.

The two had earlier surrendered before a court in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, and were brought to the Central Jail in the Kerala capital amid heavy security Wednesday night.

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

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.