By IANS,
Alappuzha (Kerala) : Why was Paul M. George, the murdered 32-year-old scion of the Muthoot business house, travelling in the company of two men with police records on the night of his killing? This is one puzzling question to which Kerala Police do not seem to have an answer though they have arrested 11 people.
George, a bachelor and son of prominent businessman and head of one of the four groups of the Muthoot business house M.G. George Muthoot, was murdered Friday night near here.
Kerala’s Inspector General of Police Vinson M. Paul announced the arrest of 11 people with known criminal antecedents Monday evening. However, he was unable to give a clear answer when asked how was George found travelling in the car with two men – Om Prakash and P. Rajesh – who reportedly have high political connections.
Om Prakash has a murder case against him and has been on the run since 2007, while a lookout notice was issued for Rajesh by the police Monday. Both are listed as goonda elements with the police.
Paul told the media that investigations would reveal the link between George and the two men.
George and the two men were in two vehicles – a Ford Endeavour and a Scorpio – on the night of the murder. George was driving the Endeavour, which did not belong to him.
However, later Om Prakash and Rajesh left together in the Endeavour and abandoned the Scorpio car at a place under Chavara Police station in Kollam district.
The Scorpio, which belonged to George, was following behind with his driver at the wheel.
The Chavara Police had reportedly tried to hand over the Endeavour to three people who had come from Thiruvananthapuram, but the attempt was foiled after mediapersons reported Saturday that George was driving this vehicle on the night of his murder.
An official at the Chavara station is under scrutiny for trying to hand over the vehicle to the three men from Thiruvananthapuram.
On Monday evening the three men who had come to take the vehicle surrendered to the police.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told reporters in north Kerala Tuesday that the probe is going ahead in the right direction.
“The media should desist from conducting an investigation and it should be left to the hands of the police, who are doing a good job,” said Balakrishnan.
State Bharatiya Janata Party chief P.K. Krishna Das alleged that the home department was “protecting lumpen elements”.
“Hired goons have the full support of the home department,” said Das.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports said that Rajesh and Om Prakash have managed to escape to Tamil Nadu.
The 11 arrested for the murder were sent to judicial custody till Sep 5 by a court late Monday night.
The St George’s School in Delhi is owned by George’s family. The principal of the school is Sara George, mother of the deceased. His father is the secretary of the Kottayam headquartered Orthodox Church.