KOCHI: P M Manaf, whose role in the murder of SFI activist Abhimanyu was mentioned by the government prosecutor in the High Court on Tuesday, was the 32th accused in the Muvattuapuzha palm chopping case. A native of Palluruthy, Manaf was the SDPI Ernakulam district president in 2010 when assailants cut off the palm of T J Joseph, a Malayalam professor at Newman College, Thodupuzha.
However, Manaf was acquitted in the case and released from jail in April 2015. According to NIA, after being released from jail, Manaf reassumed the charge of the SDPI Ernakulam district president. The charge sheet filed by the NIA in the palm chopping case stated Manaf was involved in hatching the conspiracy and arranging safe hideout for the assailants at a rented building at Nettoor in Kochi.
As per the charges raised against Manaf, he participated in a meeting held at Sheemas Auditorium, Perumbavoor, in the wake of the question paper issue on March 28, 2010. In the meeting, it was decided to recruit ‘trained’ persons who can execute the attack. Manaf had purchased a bike using a fake identity, which was allegedly used for palm chopping incident. Similarly, he took part in another meeting held at a residence in Kakkanad on July 3, 2010, as part of the conspiracy. However, the NIA could not come out with direct evidence to prove the charges levelled against him.
The NIA could retrieve the Call Data Records to prove Manaf’s connection with with the assailants and other accused persons in the palm chopping case. However, the evidence was not enough to prove the charges against him.