KOCHI: The parents of Mishel Shaji, a CA student who was found dead under mysterious circumstances here, alleged there are deliberate attempts to portray her death as suicide.Shaji Varghese, her father, claimed there is political intervention behind attempts to turn Mishel’s death into a case of suicide.
Shaji told reporters here a major campaign is being carried out via social media platforms claiming the investigating officers have closed the case after they established Mishel’s death as suicide.
“When we spoke to Crime Branch officers, they revealed no conclusion has been reached in the case and the investigation is still on. But some people through social media are campaigning against the claims of Crime Branch.
Some are eager to get the case closed even when the entire investigation has not been completed,” he said. Shaji also voiced suspicions of political intervention in the case as the lone accused Cronin Alexander was released on bail after he was arrested for abetment of suicide.
“When the body of Mishel was found near the Ernakulam wharf, there were injuries on both sides of her nose and shoulders. The water had not entered her lungs, raising doubts about death due to drowning,” he said.Meanwhile, Crime Branch officers said the investigation into the case is still under way. CCTV footage from Kaloor, where Mishel was seen leaving the St Antony’s Church,showed her being tailed by two youth. The investigation team with the assistance of the Cyber Cell is trying to track down these persons.
“We are investigating all aspects. Several persons were interrogated.
“We also received the help of the Cyber Cell to help trace the locations of some suspects in the case,” an officer said.