Kottayam: Former Kottayam cop T M Biju, whose service was terminated for taking bribe from the accused in the Kevin murder case, gave a statement in court on the events that took place prior to the murder.

Biju told the principal sessions court in Kottayam that sub-inspector M S Shibu summoned Kevin's fiancée Neenu to the police station based on a complaint filed by her father Chacko. The SI told her to go back to her parents' house as the wedding was not yet registered.

"Chacko tried to forcefully take Neenu away in the car. Neenu broke down and pleaded for help. ‘Uncle… please help,’ Neenu said while holding on to my legs. Woman cop took her back to the station," Biju told the court.

Biju, the former ASI at the Gandhinagar police station, was injured in an accident and reached the court in a wheelchair on Friday.

Kevin was abducted on May 27, 2018, by a gang allegedly on the instructions of Neenu's family. Kevin was found dead in a river at Thenmala in Kollam the next day.

Biju also said the timely intervention by the cops helped save the life of Anish, Kevin's cousin, who was also abducted by the gang.

"While I was out on night patrolling duty on the day Kevin was abducted, I saw a car at Mannanam. Neenu's brother Sanu Chacko and Ishan were in the car. They said they had come to attend the wedding of a friend's sister at Ammanchery. They were questioned about the mud on the car's number plate. They said another car and a bike were involved in an accident. Believing that their car caused the accident, the bikers were following them. In a bid to escape them, they drove through muddy paths, Sanu had said,” Biju told the court.

The former cop said both their documents were checked, photos taken and were left off.

“Sometime later, Sanu's car was spotted again and I told them the way to the MC Road. After a while, the police got information on the kidnapping of Anish and Kevin. I promptly reached Anish's house. I took the phone number of Neenu’s father from Kevin's relatives and rang him up. But before the call to Chacko was cut, he was heard saying that ‘police know everything. Let’s escape fast,’” Biju recounted.

“It was understood that Sanu and gang were behind the attack. The police called Sanu, who said that his sister's life had been ruined and now he won’t ruin his. He assured the police that they would immediately bring back those who had been kidnapped. But Sanu said Kevin had escaped,” Biju said in court.

Biju identified first accused Sanu Chacko and third accused Ishan Ismail. The former cop also identified three phone conversations that are crucial to the case.