KOCHI: A day after the special investigation team probing the murder case of a former radio jockey, issuing look-out notices at all airports in the country, a police team has intensified the search for the culprits in Mumbai. The police team has strengthened the search following reports the culprits were hiding in the city for fleeing abroad. Rajesh aka Rasikan Rajesh, 36, of Kilimanoor was hacked to death in his studio by a four-member team at around 2 am last Tuesday. Rajesh’s assistant Kuttan was also attacked. However, he escaped from the spot immediately. He is still under treatment at the Medical College Hospital.
According to P Anilkumar, Attingal DySP, the probe team had received information the culprits were hiding in Mumbai. “We are trying to locate them as we have already received their whereabouts. Similarly, a simultaneous probe is being carried out in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. However, we are sure that they will be brought to book soon,” Anilkumar said. Meanwhile, the police also recorded statements from the relatives of Rajesh to check whether he had any enemies. “As per the statements of relatives, Rajesh did not have any enemies. In fact, they suspect foul play behind the murder,” Anilkumar added. On Friday, a red Swift car used by the four-member gang from Ochira was recovered by the police. The car was spotted by the investigation team through CCTV visuals and later in the investigation found the car was hired from a rent-a-car agency in Kayamkulam.
A total of nine persons were taken into custody for interrogation and they were later released. The investigation team also received vital leads about an NRI who allegedly gave a quotation for killing Rajesh. The police said there were unconfirmed reports the victim had some relationship with the NRI’s wife who is a native of Alappuzha. Rajesh’s call details were also verified by the police revealing he was in conversation with a woman at the time of the incident. The murder took place a when Rajesh and Kuttan came to his studio after a folk song performance held at a nearby temple as part of the annual fete. When he was sitting with Kuttan in his sound recording studio, a red swift car was seen outside in suspicious circumstances. When they came out of the studio, four men got down from the car and attacked them using sharp weapons.