KOCHI: The ongoing probe into the daring daylight robbery at Perumbavoor in which an eight-member gang posing as Vigilance officials decamped with gold ornaments and money from the house of a wholesale milk dealer has found out the involvement of a former police officer, who has a criminal background, according to sleuths.
Former ASI Ranjan, hailing from Chingavanam in Kottayam, was directly involved in the execution of the well planned operation. Officials said the former cop had donned the police uniform to convince the family that he was a member of the local police assisting the ‘Vigilance’ team. His close associates Chalikkavattom Haris, a city-based gangster, and Ramesh are still at large.
Ranjan, who had a checkered service record, was placed under suspension over his alleged involvement in criminal cases in 2004. Though he got himself reinstated by working his contacts, he was demoted to the rank of Head Constable. Later, he quit service. Officers pointed out that the batchmates of Ranjan were now serving as DySPs in various units.
Meanwhile, police came to know that Ramesh had fled to Bengaluru.”We have incontrovertible evidence of Ranjan’s direct involvement in the theft. An investigation is under way to nab Ramesh and Haris,” said Perumbavoor CI Baiju Paulose.
The police had registered the FIR in the case by including Sections under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against the accused after establishing the terror link.
Of the five yet to be nabbed in the case, Ramesh and Haris were directly involved in the execution of the crime while the remaining three accused had masterminded the operation. Salim, an accused in Bangalore blast case, his brother Rayson, an accused in Pookadassery Rahim murder case and Samad, their close aide, are the three persons, hailing from Kannur.
Earlier, the District Principal and Sessions Court had given the nod for a Test Identification Parade(TIP) of the three accused, including Ranjan, 54, Nazeer, 46, and Rajan Kumar, 43. Siddique Abdul Rahman, whose house was targeted by the gang, his wife Rahna and daughter Suhana had seen the accused.
The investigators are also planning to seek the custody of the accused, who are lodged in the District Jail, Kakkanad for further interrogation so as to establish the terror link of the former cop after the TIP. Perumbavoor DySP K S Sudharsan said the date for the TIP has not been finalised as they are yet to receive a copy of the court order granting the nod for the same.