Suspects in Imtiaz case surrender in Madurai

City police to leave for Madurai today

Aneesh, wanted by the police in connection with the murder of businessman Imtiaz Khan. Photo: Special Arrangement

Aneesh or Maradu Aneesh, wanted by the City Police in connection with the death of businessman Imtiaz Khan, surrendered before a Madurai court on Tuesday.

Imtiaz Khan was found murdered inside his car parked just outside Divine Home Colony near Chittoor Bridge on December 28.

A team under M.B. Sabu, Town North Circle Inspector, was set to leave for Madurai after reports came in Tuesday afternoon that Aneesh, along with three others, surrendered before a court there.

Confusion arose when subsequent reports said that a person named Aneesh was taken into custody by the Crime Branch team in Madurai. When

The Hindu contacted the Madurai Crime Branch Unit, an officer named Nelson said the arrested person belonged to Madurai and was part of a 10-member gang engaged in forging credit cards. Four persons were being interrogated in that case and no arrest was recorded, he said.

It was only late in the evening that S. Vijayashankar, sub-inspector, Town North, confirmed that Maradu Aneesh and Aji, also wanted by the City Police in the Imtiaz Khan murder case, had surrendered along with two Tamils and the four were remanded to Madurai Central Jail.

Aneesh had been absconding after a couple of cases were registered against him in connection with the smuggling of spirit. He led a gang that had locked horns with another gang under Naseer, also known as ‘Bhai’ Naseer.

The investigation team under Sunil Jacob, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ernakulam, had been tracking Aneesh after securing evidences linking him to the death of Imtiaz Khan.

Imitiaz Khan was a close associate of Naseer and was running a real estate and unskilled labour exporting firm on behalf of the latter. It was clear from initial investigations that Imtiaz was tortured to death to collect information regarding the whereabouts of Naseer, who was also absconding.

According to police sources, Aneesh and Naseer had started out as partners. They fell out with each other after the Tamil Nadu police busted an attempt by Aneesh and his gang to kidnap a councillor at Dindigul and Aneesh’s accomplice Sinoj, was killed in a shootout at a lodge in Dindigul in March last year on a tip-off allegedly given by Naseer. It is in connection with this case that Aneesh surrendered before the Madurai court on Tuesday.

The police believe that Aneesh had been on the look out for Naseer to settle scores and this enmity had led to the murder of Imtiaz.

The City Police on Tuesday filed a report before the Judicial First Class Magistrate court here, seeking Aneesh's custody for further investigation. It is learnt that Mr. Sabu will leave for Madurai on Wednesday.

According to police sources, Aneesh already has many cases pending against him in Tamil Nadu and it will be some time before the City Police can get hold of him. The police do not have any information on the two Tamils, who surrendered along with Aneesh on Tuesday, and are not sure about their role in Imtiaz’ murder.