KOCHI: The CBI has arrested four persons in connection with the murder of Abdul Hakeem, employee of a Juma Masjid at Payyanur, around three years ago.
Kotti natives K P Abdul Nazar, 53, K Abdul Salam, 72, and Ismail A, 49, were arrested by a team led by CBI officer Darwin on Wednesday. They were produced at the residence of the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate and remanded in judicial custody. They were sent to CBI custody until April 12.
The fourth person, 43-year-old A P Muhammad Rafique was arrested on Thursday. He was produced before the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate Court and remanded. The CBI will be seeking Rafique’s custody on Friday.
Hakeem was found dead near the Juma Masjid on February 10, 2014. He had converted to Islam around 13 years before his death.
The Crime Branch, which probed the case initially, later handed over the investigation to the CBI.
Abdul Nazar and Muhammad Rafique were involved in construction activities at a madrassa under the Juma Masjid. Abdul Salam and Ismail were the president and secretary of the mosque committee respectively.
“Hakeem was murdered by the accused allegedly after he reported misappropriation of the fund sanctioned for construction work. Hakeem was involved in a chit business run by the madrassa. We have information the accused were present in the area the day on which the murder was committed,” said a CBI officer.