THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The special investigation team probing the RJ Rajesh murder case on Thursday arrested a 27-year-old history-sheeter for allegedly helping the culprits by arranging weapons to execute the crime. The arrested is Aby John, a native of Kundara, Kollam. According to the police, Aby is a ‘wanted’ criminal and he handed over country swords to Mohammed Salih, the kingpin of the gang. Aby was nabbed based on the information given by Swathi Santhosh who was arrested three days ago.
On Wednesday, the police team recovered the weapons from Kannetti lake near Karunagappally in Kollam district. Kilimanoor CI V S Pradeep Kumar told Express Aby was involved in supplying weapons as he is a hardcore criminal based in Kundara. He was arrested from Karunagappally and was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days. Pradeep Kumar said Appunni, another member of the gang, was hiding near the Goa-Maharashtra border and a police team has already reached there to trace him. “We have got several tip-offs. Acting on one of the tip-offs, a team has rushed to Goa. We are closing in on him and he would be arrested soon,” said Pradeep Kumar.
Three accused- Mohammed Salih, Swathi Santhosh and Yasin- were shifted to a special cell at Poojappura after they contracted chicken pox. The police sad they would seek the magistrate to take them into custody only after their treatment is over. On Wednesday, they were produced before the Attingal Judicial First Class Magistrate. Later, the court ordered the police to shift them to a special cell.
Attingal DySP P Anilkumar said efforts were on to bring Qatar-based businessman and prime suspect Abdul Sathar, to the state. “The extradition process is on. We will arrest him once he lands here,” Anilkumar said. The kingpin Salih was arrested on Tuesday. He had confessed to the crime and said he had executed it owing to the ‘commitment’ given to Abdul Sathar. Sathar’s personal grudge against Rajesh led to the murder. Sathar suspected that Rajesh had illicit relationship with his wife which later led to a divorce.