By TCN News,
Kochi: The NIA special court in Kochi permitted the National Investigation Agency to probe further into the case related to the hand-chopping incident. Judge S Vijayakumar directed the NIA to submit a report after investigating about the absconding accused and their financial sources, according to reports.
The NIA unit of Hyderabad which is in charge of the case approached the court for permission for further probe, as some of the absconding accused had reportedly left the country. The absconding had also reportedly contacted some persons in Hyderabad and different cities in Tamil Nadu. The NIA has already sought the help of police in these states to track them.
Professor TJ Joseph, who taught Malayalam at the Newman College in Thodupuzha, was attacked by a gang on July 4, 2010 and his right palm was chopped off. Mr Joseph was involved in a case of blasphemy – he is reported to have prepared a question paper with derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammed. Though he fled the law in the beginning, he was later arrested by the police. He was on bail when the attack took place. He was later thrown out of the Newman College as the college reportedly found that he was guilty of hurting the feelings of a community through the controversial question paper.
The police investigation into the case led to the arrest of some young men, suspected to be active members of the Popular Front of India. It led to widespread raids and searches in the offices of the PFI and associated organizations all over the state. The police also reportedly carried out indiscriminate raids in the houses of PFI members. The police investigation found 54 persons accused in the case.
The case was handed over to the NIA on March 9, 2011, by the central Home Ministry, considering the gravity and nature of the case. The accused have been charged with criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder, UAPA, Weapons Act, Explosives Act, etc. There are a total of 54 accused in the case, among which 27 are absconding.
As per the court nod to investigate further, the NIA would carry out the investigation as a follow-up of the police investigation. Hence, the agency may keep the police’s chargesheet naming 54 accused and submit an additional chargesheet, investigating the inter-state connections and financial sources of the accused.
The NIA had submitted FIR in the case on April 8 in the NIA special court in Kochi. The FIR reportedly stated that the offenders challenged the law and justice system and created an atmosphere of terror in the society by their act. The criminal conspiracy, anti-national activities and foreign funding with regard to the act need to be investigated. The accused who are active members of the Popular Front of India are involved in some other cases also, the FIR said according to reports. The NIA submitted the documents regarding the case at the NIA court on April 25.