The investigation into the Paul Muthoot George murder case, which has been hogging media headlines from August 22, is nearing completion.
Sources in the Special Investigation Team probing the case hinted that the charge-sheet could be submitted by the end of this month or by the first week of November. The final touches to the charge-sheet would be added once the narco-analysis and polygraph tests on Om Prakash and Rajesh, the 15th and 16th accused in the case, were over.
The tests, for which the Ramankary Judicial First Class Magistrate Subitha Chirakkal had granted permission earlier this week, will begin by October 14, the sources said. The court had allowed any eight days within 30 days of the permission for the narco-analysis test, which would be conducted at the Ahmedabad Forensic Science Laboratory. Any two days within one week of the court’s permission would be used for the polygraph lie-detector test, which would take place at the Thiruvananthapuram Forensic Science Laboratory.
The tests, according to the affidavit submitted by the SIT in the court, are to ascertain whether Prakash and Rajesh, both of whom are known offenders with a number of cases registered against their names in various police stations in the State, are in any way involved in the murder of Paul. As of now, available circumstantial evidence has helped the police reach a decision that they were guilty of trying to destroy evidence by escaping from the crime scene on the Ford Endeavour that Paul was driving. The tests could also throw light on whether the duo was involved in any conspiracy relating to the murder, officials said.
The investigation so far has been quite fast, despite the controversies and accusations, with 23 out of the 25 accused being arrested. Those arrested included Kaari Satheesh, who had confessed before the media that it was he who stabbed Paul after an altercation.
Two more members of the hired gang from Changanassery, Sony and Prakash, are still absconding. However, officials expressed confidence that the two would be apprehended shortly.
