The Ernakulam Judicial First Class Magistrate court -II on Tuesday remanded Maradu Aneesh, the first accused in the Imtiaz murder case, in police custody for 12 days.
The police produced him before the court in the morning and sought his custody as part of the investigation of the murder case.
Maradu Aneesh was brought to Kochi on Monday evening from Madurai Central Prison. He was accompanied by armed policemen of Tamil Nadu and Kochi police.
The police had sought 14 days’ custody of the accused but the court granted only 12 days. “We have to collect evidence and quiz him about other people involved in the case. So far we could identify four people. But the involvement of others has to be confirmed after interrogating Aneesh.
Aneesh will be interrogated at an isolated place in the city after which he will be returned to judicial custody on March 16, police said. Clad in a white kurtha and white pant, Aneesh appeared before the court around 11 am. His mother was also present at the court. The magistrate permitted him to talk to his mother.
The Excise Department also moved the court seeking his custody, but the petition would be considered in the coming days. The police officials said that they would also bring his close associate Patti Ajith and another accused in the Imtiaz murder case from Madurai.
Imtiaz, a close associate of gangster Bhai Nazeer, was a victim of gang rivalry. Imtiaz, who was running the real estate business of Bhai Nazeer, was found murdered in his car parked near his house of December 27. He was also a mediator on behalf of Nazeer when business disputes took place between realtors.
Maradu Aneesh and four others surrendered before the Madurai Chief Judicial Magistrate last week.