Kanhangad: A police report implicates a friend of the prime accused in the Periya double murders in Kerala's Kasaragod district for direct involvement in the crime.
Saji George is directly involved in the Periya double murders and held a grudge against the victims, a police report submitted in court says.
Saji, absolving himself of murder, had told media he merely drove the vehicle. His vehicle is in police custody.
Saji was arrested on Wednesday a day after his friend and prime accused in the case A Peethambaran was taken in by the cops. The former was remanded in six-day custody by the Kanhangad First Class Magistrate after the police sought him for procedures as part of scientific analysis.
A suspect in five other cases, Saji has been involved in political ruckus earlier too. The tile businessman is a long-time friend of Peethambaran.
Peethambaran and Saji were produced before Hosdurg first class magistrate and remanded in police custody. Another five people – Suresh, Girijan, Anil, Sreerag and Aswin -- were arrested on Thursday.
No drugs
The suspects are not regular drugs users even though Peethambaran claimed he was on a high during the murder, the police said. Even his relatives say he does not use drugs. However, some of the seven suspects had had drinks on that night.
Is Peethambaran fit?
Peethambaran’s relatives had claimed he was incapable of murder because a steel rod has been inserted in his arm after an earlier accident. The police have not been able to verify this, nor has the hospital in Mangaluru where he was treated. But he goes about as if there is problem with the arm.
Bike from Kannur
The bike found at the crime scene belongs to someone from Echiladukka, Kannur. Another jeep is also under police scanner.
The probe into the Periya twin murder case has been handed over to the Crime Branch from the local police. Though the family of the slain Youth Congress workers – Sharathlal and Kripesh - as well as the Congress party had requested for an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the change in the investigation agency was unlikely.
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