THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former gunman of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Salim Raj, and the six other accused in the Kadakampally land grab case had not stated the facts before the CBI during the three-day custodial interrogation. Though there was circumstantial evidence against the accused persons, they had not reportedly co-operated with the interrogation.
In the investigation report submitted before the CBI court on Saturday, after producing the seven accused persons, the CBI officials clearly pointed out that everyone refused to come out with facts, including the fabrication of revenue records which they had repeatedly used for the preparation of bogus sale deeds and illegal alienation of land. As all the seven were influential, it might prevent the truth from coming out. Hence they would be remanded in judicial custody.
Subsequently, the CBI court remanded the seven accused persons in judicial custody for 12 days, that will be till June 18. They were sent to the special sub jail at the central prison compound. Meanwhile, the court gave approval for subjecting the four accused persons to medical aid during the remand period. The court has already given instructions to the jail superintendent regarding the same. The four accused are C K Jayaram (first accused), Abdul Majeed (second accused), Abdul Ashraf (tenth accused) and S M Salim (twenty-eighth accused).
Sources said that there was no need for any further interrogation as the evidence against the seven was fool-proof.
It was revealed that he had given crores of money to the officials on various occasions. “We are investigating the source of the money. We have also got enough evidence to prove that Salim Raj had misused his position as the chief minister’s gunman and misused the government guest houses for money and land transactions”, an official, on condition of anonymity, said.
Stepping out from the court, Salim Raj told mediapersons that he would speak to the media on Monday and the media had all the freedom to write about him. Meanwhile, the bail applications of all the accused persons will be considered by the CBI court on Monday.